NV Emilio Hidalgo Fino Especial "La Panesa", Spain, Jerez, Wine Review

Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$60.00USD

Boy, did I enjoy this wine.  It is very unique although I am told this style of wine used to be more prevalent.  It is an aged Fino style Sherry that was aged for 15 years from a Solera started in 1961.  Just gorgeous but it is different.  It is a deep golden color with just a hint of amber.  Clear and bright.  The nose is big with a lot of alcohol and some volatile acidity (the later blows off slightly with air).  Also an almond/ nuttiness and salinity to the nose.  Full bodied.  Complex, contemplative and deep.  Bone dry on the palate.  The nutty salinity come thru along with a petrol not

NV Harveys Jerez-Xérès-Sherry Harveys Bristol Cream, Spain, Wine Review

Score: 
87
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

A pleasure to again revisit this wine.  It often gets short shrift these days, but for those who haven't tried it, this is a very nice sweet wine that offers pleasure and value.  If you get a bottle for the holidays, don't re-gift it.  You may be pleasantly surprised.  Open it up and try it.  It is a blend of Fino, Amontillado and Oloroso, with some Pedro Ximénez.   Iced tea in color, clear and bright.  The nose has toffee with slight caramel.  There is some noticeable alcohol on the nose.  Viscous texture and full bodied.  On the palate, this is sweet but not cloying.  There is a nice acid

NV Gonzalez-Byass Jerez-Xérès-Sherry Alfonso, Oloroso Seco, Spain, Wine Review

Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$25.00USD

Olorosso sherries are an acquired taste.  This is dry and different from most wines.  For those of us who love this style, this is a good thing as sherries have some of the best quality to price ratio in the wine world.  Olorosso sherries are made in an oxidative wine from the start.  They are fortified with a neutral spirit (around 17or 18% abv) that kills the yeasts.  This one is quite smooth and tasty.  Deep amber in color, clear and bright.  The nose is oxidized with walnuts and some apricots and orange peel.  Full bodied.  On the palate, the alcohol is noticeable but not bitter or hot.

NV Williams & Humbert Gran Duque d'Alba Solera Gran Reserva Brandy de Jerez, Spain, Wine Review

Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$40.00USD

First off, this is not wine, it is Brandy.  That said, it is distilled from young, Palomino and Airén grapes. Then aged for ten to twelve years in American oak that had previously been used for oloroso sherry.  It is 40% abv.  Light golden in color.  The nose has alcohol but also a nice nuttiness with a bit of dates.  On the palate, this is warm but not hot.  There are nice figs along with caramel.  Warmth on the finish.  For $30, this is a nice value in Brandy.  Best sipped on its own.  

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 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

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