Based around the city of Jerez de la Frontera in south-west Spain; Sherry is the English corruption of the word Jerez.
A once very common label on fairly innocuous fortified wines from other countries (especially from the New World), Jerez DO wines have been undervalued as a result. In the mid 1990's the sherry trade successfully had the name restricted to the produce of Jerez DO within the European Union.
The climate here is strongly influenced by the Atlantic. Winters are mild and damp with summer temperatures often reaching 30°C inland, occasionally brushing 40°C with the assistance of dry, dusty winds from the south-east.
The region produces an amazing array of fortified wines ranging from bone dry Fino to thick, sweet Pedro Ximénez and everything in between. The three most important varieties are: Palomino, Pedro Ximénez and Muscat of Alexandria.
Fino: Pale straw colour with delicate aromas and a light dry almond palate. Chill it well and enjoy it with tapas or mild cheese.
Manzanilla: Also very pale in colour with a slightly salty tang. Well chilled, it is perfect with olives and nuts.
Amontillado: Amber colour. Smooth and light with a subtle flavour of hazelnuts. Good with oily fish and cheese.
Oloroso: Light mahogany colour with fragrant walnut aromas. Dry full-bodied style. Can be enjoyed with game and red meat.
Palo Cortado: The rarest of all sherries. With elements of both fino and oloroso it is wonderful with salty food like cured meat, cheese or on its own before or after a meal.
Cream or Pedro Ximénez: Deep coloured sweet style with aromas of raisins and dates. Try it with rich pâtés such as foie gras or drizzle over good quality vanilla ice-cream.More info ...
Lustau have therefore sought out Almacenistas who match up to their exacting standards and promoted their brands on an individual basis.
Drink as an apéritif, with tapas, nuts and olives, or to accompany cold and smoked meats, cheese board or even rich flavoured fish or seafood dishes.
IWC Gold Medal Price: £11.74 Including VAT at 17.5%
Drink as an apéritif with toasted almonds or olives, or to accompany rich game dishes, or with the cheeseboard. Price: £11.74 Including VAT at 17.5%
The Valdespino family were growers and almacenistas from the 14th century through to their acquisition by the Estévez family some 5 years ago.
The historic cellars in the centre of town have - like everyone else's - been sold up for conversion into smart hotels, flats and restaurants in favour of moving to the more spacious albeit rather anonymous outskirts.
The source vineyards, however, remain the same and vinification continues much as it used to under the eagle eye of charismatic technical director Eduardo Ojeda.
This is a classic Fino Sherry produced in the traditional way using the "Solera" and "Criadera" system.
This Fino is unique as it is produced from the grapes of one vineyard, located in the reknowned Macharnudo area of Jerez. It is also the only Fino Sherry fermented in casks of American oak. It is then matured under the veil of "flor" for over eight years.
This gives Inocente Fino a truly superb and delicious dry fresh flavour, light golden colour, delicate and pungent to the nose.
It is an ideal aperitif, and perfect with soups, seafood and fish dishes and can be served in a white wine glass or traditional Sherry glass.
Serve chilled. Price: £14.49 Including VAT at 17.5%
This Manzanilla is produced using the traditional method of the "Solera" and "Criadera" system.
This Sherry is matured in Sanlúcar de Barrameda, a town on the Atlantic Coast, within the "Golden Triangle" area of Sherry production. Here the gentle sea breezes help to give this wine a very dry, light and crisp and slightly salty flavour. Fresh and pungent on the nose.
Pale golden staw in colour, it is superb as an aperitif, and can also accompany soups, seafood and fish dishes.
Serve chilled. Price: £13.00 Including VAT at 17.5%
This Amontillado Sherry is fermented in oak casks. The "must", or grape juice, originates from a vineyard in the reknowned Macharnudo area of Jerez, and is aged under a veil of "flor" for more than eight years. Futher maturing, allowing oxidation of the wine, takes place for at least another eight years before bottling.
The result is an amber coloured wine, dry, ample and well balanced to the palate. It is very complex to the nose with clear hints of hazelnut.
It is a very pleasant aperitif and can accompany meat and game dishes.
To be served slightly chilled. Price: £18.99 Including VAT at 17.5%
This Cream Sherry is a blend of full-bodied Oloroso and Perdo Ximenez, matured using the traditional "Solera" and "Criadera" system. The sweetness of this Sherry is derived from the Perdo Ximenez, grown from the grape variety of the same name. Once harvested, the Pedro Ximenez grapes are left out in the September sunshine for about two weeks. This greatly increases the sugar levels and gives the grape its raisin texture and flavour. The blend of these superb wines makes this Cream Sherry one of the most popular styles, having an aroma of mature, noble wine, with hints of dried fruits and notes of oak and raisin. It is rich, rounded, velvety and complex on the palate, well balanced with a long aftertaste.
It is superb as an aperitif, but can also be enjoyed with all kinds of desserts, cakes, cheeses and as an after-dinner drink.
Can be served at "room" termperature, with ice or chilled from the fridge. Price: £12.76 Including VAT at 17.5%
This is a traditional medium dry Amontillado Sherry. The "must", or grape juice, originates from a vineyard in the reknowned Macharnudo area of Jerez, and is aged under a veil of "flor" for more than eight years. Futher maturing, allowing oxidation of the wine, takes place for at least another eight years. A touch of Pedro Ximenez Sherry is then added to make this Amontillado less dry and very slightly sweet.
Amber in colour, it is well balanced on the palate, very complex to the nose with clear hints of hazelnut.
Serve at "room" temperature or slightly chilled. Price: £17.35 Including VAT at 17.5%
Made from Pedro Ximenez grapes, once harvested are left out in the sunshine for at least two weeks. This causes water to evaporate from the grape turning it to raisin, the sugar level rises so that when matured using the "Solera" and "Criadera" system, the wine produced is of an intense mahogany colour, with aroma of raisins. On the palate it is rich, velvety and very smooth with a long aftertaste.
Serve during dessert slightly chilled. Price: £19.40 Including VAT at 17.5%
This is an intense, concentrated and complex Oloroso. Dry fruits and oaky in character. Of an intense mahogany colour, to the palate it is smooth, full bodied with a long aftertaste. This Sherry is matured in oak casks for a minimum of 20 years before it is bottled.
It is a superb apperitif and can accompany meat and game dishes or cheese. Price: £30.64 Including VAT at 17.5%
Over 20 years old, this is sandalwood flecked prune in colour with a dry, caramelized nose yet smooth, savoury and sublimely tangy on the palate, with exceptional balance. A star. Price: £30.64 Including VAT at 17.5%
Pale sandalwood/caramel in hue, with a fresh, brisk, redolently woody aroma. Though appearing to teeter on the verge of volatility by virtue of being so dry and so woody, the blue cheese notes (cachel blue / dolcelatte / cabrales / stilton) lift it into an entirely different plane. Price: £214.57 Including VAT at 17.5%
Another wine in the 30 year old bracket.
In the glass it has a youthful green rim. The palate is stunning - nutty rich and complex. Dry without being bone-dry. A fantastic wine. Price: £235.00 Including VAT at 17.5%
Again, over 30 years old; this is so concentrated that its almost like wine extract: nutty, woody, sesame-like, and vibrantly balsamic. Price: £265.66 Including VAT at 17.5%
