Spain — wine
Jerez DO
The sherry triangle: Jerez de la Frontera, Sanlúcar de Barrameda, El Puerto de Santa María. Albariza (white chalk) soils — best quality sites. Palomino Fino for dry styles; Pedro Ximénez for sweet. Two ageing pathways: biological (under flor yeast veil — Fino, Manzanilla, Amontillado) and oxidative (without flor — Oloroso, Palo Cortado). Solera system of fractional blending maintains house style. En Rama (unfiltered, seasonal release) is the benchmark of freshness. BC importer: Authentic Wine & Spirits [NEEDS VERIFICATION].
Benchmark products
wine fortified
Hidalgo La Gitana Manzanilla
Bodegas Hidalgo La Gitana
estate
wine fortified
Lustau Los Arcos Dry Amontillado
Bodegas Lustau
estate
wine fortified
Gonzalez Byass Tio Pepe Fino
Gonzalez Byass
market
wine fortified
Equipo Navazos La Bota de Amontillado
Equipo Navazos
reserve
wine fortified
Gonzalez Byass Noe Pedro Ximenez VORS
Gonzalez Byass
reserve
wine fortified
Lustau Peninsula Palo Cortado
Bodegas Lustau
reserve
Vintage assessments
| Year | Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 85 | Good year. Jerez bodegas continuing to release exceptional en rama and single cask expressions. |
| 2020 | 86 | Good. Reliable Palomino harvest. Sherry production methodology (solera/criadera) transcends single vintage. |
| 2018 | 87 | Good Jerez. Dry, hot conditions ideal for Palomino. Amontillado and Palo Cortado aging conditions excellent. |
| 2016 | 88 | Very good Jerez growing conditions. Palomino Fino harvest excellent. En rama bottlings especially notable. |
| 2015 | — | Excellent year for Fino and Manzanilla freshness; great Palomino character. |
| 2010 | — | A legendary Sherry vintage for single-harvest Amontillado and Oloroso releases. |