Gago & Co.Juan Carlos Sánchez Gago
Juan Carlos Sánchez Gago heads Gago & Co. (Barrels & Wines), an artisan firm based in the heart of the historic centre of Jerez de la Frontera. Under his own TABAJETE brand, he selects and markets a carefully chosen range of generosos protected by the D.O. Jerez-Xérès-Sherry —Fino, Amontillado, Palo Cortado, Oloroso, Cream and Pedro Ximénez, plus his exclusive Oloroso VORS and Palo Cortado VORS selections— from wineries registered in the Marco de Jerez. The project includes the Tabanco Los Monos as a benchmark wine-tourism venue, and focuses its activity on the selection, management and marketing of American oak barrels and the promotion of Marco de Jerez culture. Besides generosos, Gago & Co. works with rums and beers, and develops an artisan circular-economy line: old, disused Jerez barrels transformed into unique furniture and lamps.
The historic centre of Jerez de la Frontera, in the heart of the Sherry Triangle, is the setting of Gago & Co. The vineyards of the Marco de Jerez spread over the characteristic albariza —white calcareous clay of marine origin with an exceptional capacity to retain moisture—, on which Palomino Fino grows almost exclusively, the base variety of the dry generosos, complemented by Moscatel and Pedro Ximénez for the sweet ones. The confluence of three rivers —Guadalquivir, Guadalete and Salado— and the Atlantic Levante and Poniente breezes create the singular microclimate that makes the flor veil possible: that film of living yeasts that protects the wine from oxidation and gives it the unique character of Fino and Manzanilla. Gago & Co. operates from Calle Arcos 51, in the heart of an old town that breathes sherry from every stone.
- Personal, artisan selection of generosos from the D.O. Jerez-Xérès-Sherry from the best wineries of the Marco
- Own selection of the range TABAJETE: Fino, Amontillado, Palo Cortado, Oloroso, Cream and Pedro Ximénez, with the exclusive Palo Cortado VORS and Oloroso VORS selections
- Management and marketing of American oak barrels for ageing generosos and maturing spirits and other beverages
- Artisan circular economy: reuse of old, disused Jerez barrels to create artisan furniture (tables, lamps) and unique decorative items
- Wine-tourism venue Tabanco Los Monos: tastings, local gastronomy and promotion of Marco culture in Jerez's old town
- Personalised oenological experiences: tasting of TABAJETE wines with pairings and special references such as Ron del Barrilito
- Artisan distribution complemented by rums and beers of own production or selection
- TABAJETE Palo Cortado VORS — D.O. Jerez-Xérès-Sherry · 100% Palomino Fino · VORS oxidative ageing · dry · 30 years · 21.5% vol.
- TABAJETE Oloroso VORS — D.O. Jerez-Xérès-Sherry · 100% Palomino Fino · VORS oxidative ageing · dry · 30 years · 21.5% vol.
- TABAJETE Oloroso — D.O. Jerez-Xérès-Sherry · 100% Palomino Fino · oxidative ageing · dry · 8 years · 18% vol.
- TABAJETE Amontillado — D.O. Jerez-Xérès-Sherry · 100% Palomino Fino · biological + oxidative ageing · dry · 8 years · 18% vol.
The Marco de Jerez —a triangle formed by Jerez de la Frontera, El Puerto de Santa María and Sanlúcar de Barrameda— is one of the oldest and most singular designations of origin in the world. Its great contribution to wine culture is not measured in grape varieties or high-altitude vineyards: it lies in the solera ageing system where the genius of Jerez lies. Barrels stacked by gravity where wines age in contact with air (oxidative generosos) or under the flor veil (biological generosos), with a fraction drawn off annually from the bottom row and topped up with new wine from above. The result is a non-vintage wine that carries the accumulated imprint of decades. Gago & Co., based in Jerez's old town, is one of the projects working to revalue and promote this unique culture —through the Tabanco Los Monos, the artisan barrels and the TABAJETE range.
The TABAJETE collection at Terroir Radical
TABAJETE Palo Cortado VORS
Palo Cortado is the most enigmatic of the generosos: it is born as a Fino, spontaneously loses its flor veil and evolves towards oxidative ageing. The result combines the aromatic elegance of an Amontillado with the structure and body of an Oloroso —a balance impossible to imitate and very hard to find. TABAJETE Palo Cortado VORS is an exclusive selection with 30 years of ageing on albariza soils of the Marco de Jerez: elegance, history and tradition served in a glass. Pairs perfectly with cured meats, stews, red meats, pork cheek and oxtail.
Bronze, amber and topaz tones in a deep glass, with greenish sensations when the glass is tilted. Complex, seductive nose: pungent, intense fruity aromas, dried fruit, vanilla and oriental spices —the product of 30 years of ageing. Dry and silky on the palate, fresh and light with lively acidity. Very long, persistent finish, notes of dark chocolate. A wine to stop and think.
TABAJETE Oloroso VORS
Oloroso is the king of Jerez wines, the most aristocratic in complexity of nose and palate. TABAJETE Oloroso VORS is a dry generoso with 30 years of ageing on albariza soils of the Marco, the maximum expression of oxidative ageing. A powerful wine with intense flavours and above all elegant. Perfect for the most demanding palates seeking the maximum concentration of the Marco de Jerez.
Intense amber turning to mahogany, with iodine reflections and ochre tones —the unmistakable mark of 30 years of ageing. Very complex nose: walnuts, hazelnuts, tobacco, dry caramel, warm spices. Powerful and forceful. Completely dry and robust on the palate, with a dense, unctuous structure. Very long, warm finish with toasted notes. The most aristocratic wine in the TABAJETE range.
TABAJETE Oloroso
A dry generoso made with 100% Palomino Fino on albariza soils of the Marco de Jerez, with 8 years of ageing through the traditional solera and criaderas system. Purely oxidative ageing, without flor veil. Ideal with cured meats, cheeses and game. Serve at 16–17°C.
Mahogany tones. Pungent, subdued nose with notes of dried fruit. Persistent, complex, very elegant and dry palate. Long, velvety finish with toasted notes.
TABAJETE Amontillado
Amontillado is the result of an initial biological ageing under the flor veil —like the finos— followed by oxidative ageing like the olorosos. This double ageing explains the darkening of the colour and the differentiation of the bouquet from the finos: a unique complexity that makes it one of the most versatile generosos of Jerez. Pairs with cured meats, white meats and oily fish. Serving temperature: 16–18°C.
Dark amber, clear and bright. Intense, pungent nose: dried almond, hazelnut, a hint of olive —the result of the transition between biological and oxidative ageing. Persistent, complex and very elegant on the palate. Dry but fresh and light wine, with lively, well-integrated acidity. Long, elegant finish. Amontillado is the perfect bridge between Fino and Oloroso, and one of the most versatile generosos at the table.
Editorial note
Juan Carlos and I have known each other for many years. We first met at a wine fair in Germany —one of those where you can spend hours among glasses and conversations you don't want to end. Since that day, we have stayed in touch: winery visits, tastings, long after-dinner conversations. Time has meant that we both have new projects today, and that our paths meet again. Having Juan Carlos's wines at Terroir Radical is much more than a reference in the catalogue. It is the result of years of friendship and mutual trust, and of a shared conviction: that behind every great wine there is a person with something important to say about the land. TABAJETE says it very loudly. Bringing them into TR was a golden opportunity —and we did not want to miss it.
— Terroir Radical