1876 Facts About Sherry by Henry Vizetelly

Tlie Bodegas in the old Moorish Quarter of Jerez. 73

stationary at 43 degrees of proof spirit. During recent years only tliree quarter-casks of it kave been sold—one to tbe late Duke of Hamilton, another to a retired wine-mercbant named Hisbet, who paid .£1,000 for it, or at tbe rate of £6 6s. per bottle in loco—tbe bigbest price paid for a mne on record, being 25 per cent, more tban was obtained a few years ago for tbe famous Cbateau Lafite of tbe grand Comet vintage of 1811—and a tbird to tbe late Emperor of tbe Erencb, wbose reason for securing some of tbe wine was possibly because it was named after Napoleon I. Wben Marshal Soult was at Jerez in 1808 be seems to have visited tbe Domecq bodega, and after tasting tbe most ancient wine stored there, out of compbment to it wrote tbe word "Napoleon" on tbe bead of tbe cask with a piece of chalk. Tbe marshal's caligrapby was of tbe worst, still tbe inscription was preserved for many years as a souvenir of bis visit,and tbe wine has ever since been known by tbe name be gave to it. Wben tbe great emperor's star paled, other casks of tbe same wine were christened.Wellington, Nelson,Pitt, and Pox. Two other casks subsequently bad tbe names of former partners in tbe bouse of Domecq and Co. bestowed upon them,one being called Euskin,after tbefather of tbe author of Modern Painters. A butt of very fine old sweet wine preserved in tbe same boclega enjoys tbe honour of being called, after tbe Finest Gentleman in Europe—Georgius Quartus Eex. Senor Domecq prides himself on bis criaderas, which are distributed over a couple of bodegas; tbe first a square lofty building of eight aisles, situated immediately beyond tbe solera bodega,and capable of holding 2,500 butts; while tbe second, which has room for a couple ofthousand casks, is detached from tberestof tbeestablishment. Tbe nursing system is here in full operation, tbe wines stored passing through as many as fom: criaderas before going to a solera, and remaining invai-iably a year or more in each. Some of tbe wine in these nurseries bad been vintaged as recently as 1872, but tbe larger portion was five and six years old. In order that tbe wine used to replenish a solera may be of equal quality, it is carefully