NV Bodegas Tradición Sherry Oloroso 30 Years Old VORS, Spain, Jerez, Wine Review

Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$78.00USD

This is a great bottle of wine.  Of course, only if one likes Sherry in a dry, oxidative style.  The average age of the wines making this up is 40 years old.  Light copper in color. The nose is great though there is some volatile acidity. Nutty, with salinity and slight burnt orange peel. On the palate, this is complex and deep. Dry.

NV Barbadillo Oloroso Sherry, Spain, Jerez, Wine Review

Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$11.00USD

 This is 100% Palomino Fino aged for an average of five years.  it is made in an oxidative style.  It is the color of iced tea.  On the nose there is a nice butterscotch quality.  It is lighter and easier going on the palate.  Almost like a "starter" Oloroso, but certainly a few steps up from cooking sherry.  This should be consumed in the next few years.  It will go well with salty foods.  

NV Emilio Lustau Jerez Don Nuño Dry Oloroso, Spain, Wine Review

Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$21.00USD

Lustau wines are easy to find and priced attractively.  Don't let the pricing make you think this is low quality.  They are good to great wines .  This one is made in an oxidative style.  Deep copper in color.  The nose is slightly nutty with dried oranges.  Very nice.  On the palate, this is light to medium bodied.  Very smooth.  More orange peel than fruit with a bit of weak tea.  Good finish.  Slight warmth.  This drinks easily and would work well with mixed nuts but also with dried meats or even a roasted veggie or meat soup.  

NV Alvear Montilla-Moriles Amontillado Carlos VII, Spain, Montilla-Moriles, Wine review

Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$30.00USD

This is made from 100% Pedro Ximinez grapes but is dry as a bone.  Supposedly it is not fortified which is possible given how sweet the PX grapes can get although the label lists 19%abv.  Not from Jerz but rather Montilla-Moriles which is where most PX grapes are grown these days.  The Solera is over 15 years old and the average age of the vines is over 20.  The wine comes in 500ml format.  Deep orange/copper in color.  The nose is great.  Deep with complex layers.  Nutty with figs and salinity but also a bit of a buttery note.  On the palate, this is deep and complex.  Layers of nuttiness

NV Emilio Lustau Jerez Palo Cortado Peninsula, Spain, Wine Review

Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$22.00USD

The phrase Palo Cortado comes from a mark that was placed on Fino sherries that did not form (or early on lost) a Flor covering.  It literally means a vertical line or palo, would then be crossed or cortado by a diagonal line.  An example can be found on the label of this wine.  It is deep brown color.  The nose has lots of coffee and a confectionery chocolate candy ("tootsie roll") quality to it.  There is a nutty quality a hint of citrus rind.  On the palate, this has some complexity.  Some tea and also coffee notes along with a nutty caramel quality.  Slightly viscous.  Some warmth on th

NV Valdespino Sherry Palo Cortado Viejo C.P., Spain, Jerez, Wine Review

Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$36.00USD

This was a controversial wine.  Everyone tasting it agreed the nose was amazing, but the crowd was split on the palate.  For me, this was fantastic.  The average age of the vines used is 25 years although it carries no certification.  It is refreshed regularly with some of top Soleras from both Fino and Amontillado of Valdespino.  It is the color of iced tea.  The nose is oxidized showing a nice nuttiness.  There is also caramel, salt, and just a slight orange peel quality.  Very complex.  On the palate, this is dry as a bone.  Nutty with caramel, slight vanilla, a bit of smoke and slight w

NV Barbadillo Jerez-Xérès-Sherry Amontillado Medium Dry, Spain, Jerez, Wine Review

Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$12.00USD

This is interesting as it is off dry or demi-sec or what they call Medium Dry.  The wine was aged for three years before loosing the "Flor" due to not being refreshed.  Light copper in color.  There is some volatile acidity on the nose which brings up a lot of nice qualities but also some alcohol.  The wine is nutty with milk chocolate notes and also a bit of "woody" apple cider.  On the palate, this is smooth and the alcohol does not show.  It is sweet though not overtly.  The finish is bitter-sweet.  This drinks well on its own but might be difficult to place with food.  Probably best for

NV Williams & Humbert Collection Don Zoilo Manzanilla Sherry, Spain, Jerez, Wine Review

Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$29.00USD

This is similar to a Fino, that is grown under a Flor, but a bit inland from Jerez.  Slightly pink/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose is slightly nutty with a nice salinity.  There is also a slight apple cider note.  On the palate, this is very smooth.  Slight red apples with a bit of warmth and bitterness.  It does not have a lot of acidity.  The finish is a bit bitter.  The wine is slightly oxidized but not bad.  It begs for salty food.  Drink over the next year or two.  

2018 Bodegas Viña Nora Albariño Rías Baixas Nora, Spain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$17.00USD

Light silver/gold in color.  The nose has lots of minerality, crushed shells and some lemon.  Also a bit steely.  On the palate, this is crisp and lean.  Steely with lots of minerality/chalk.  Just a hint of viscosity on the midpalate.  Clean finish.  This would work well with seafood or other lighter foods.  Nice for summer sipping,  Ranges in price from $13 to $18.  Drink now.  

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