Tinto y Blanco » Palomino

Gonzalez Byass Elegante Fino

Dave Worthington — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 03:49:22 +0000

There doesn’t seem to be much good news in the paper these days. Words like economic meltdown, recession, jobs cuts and such seem to be on every page. It’s a good thing the only market I follow is the local farmer’s market, all these tales of woe could drive a man to drink. If you have done your wad in the market, at least you can find some reasonably priced sherry to dull the pain.

This note has been hanging around for a while, but this is a good budget priced fino to while away a few hours with.

Very pale in the glass, you could almost confuse it for water. The nose is full of healthy flor character, green apples and a hint of salty nuts. Fairly basic in the mouth, fresh apple and roasted almonds with zingy acid and . Fresh and light, it’s a fun drink with plenty to offer at this price point. 86 Pts.

Source: Broadway Liquor Distributors Price: $17 Closure: Cork Stopper

Web: www.gonzalezbyass.com

Herederos de Argueso ‘San Leon’ Manzanilla

Dave Worthington — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 23:25:20 +0000

So this is the big daddy from Argueso, the award winning San Leon. I’ve written this up before, but as it turned up in a box of samples I tought it would be worth while re-visiting. If you had a look in my fridge at home you’d find at least a bottle of La Goya and a bottle of San Leon ready to go. For me, these are the best two examples of Manzanilla that are available in Australia, they are both regularly shipped out so you can usually find something that was bottled about 4 to 6 months ago, which is about the best we can expect on the other side of the world from Sanlúcar de Barrameda.

I have been trying drink a fair bit of stuff that is not from Spain or Portugal over the past couple of weeks in an attempt to keep the old palate broad. A bit of 06 burgundy, a few older aussies, some 07 german Rieslings and a bit of 06 Chianti Classico, so its nice to get back in the swing of things with an excellent manzanilla. I had written a new tasting note, but I think my old one captures this wine very well. One thing I will add is that this wine show what a bargain a sherry is in the world of ever rising prices. San Leon is now being imported by BibendumBTW.

Very pale, almost colourless. Classic nose, salt spray, chamomile, roasted nuts and flor. Refreshing and highly drinkable. This is not a simple sherry, the palate is complex, but subtle. More nuts, light sea salt and tangy apple. There is also a textured, mealy character that I find very interesting. You will need to order a couple of these, it goes all too quickly. 92 Pts.

Source: Bibendum Wine Co. Price: $19 (375 ml) Closure: Screwcap

Web: www.argueso.es

Argueso “Las Medallas de Argeso” Manzanilla

Dave Worthington — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 03:39:58 +0000

Yesterday I wrote about the younger brother of this manzanilla, which was all about edgy acidity and freshness. This guy is a year older and is more about flor complexity, softness and the barrels. I like both, but we finished the bottle of the 4 year old on the day, this was left…

Notes of almonds and ground oats, plenty of flor character and a little vanilla essence. Soft and round in the mouth with plenty of salty tang. Almonds and apples with an old wood note and a touch of citrus peel. A fairly complex little number, but not the freshness that I crave from manzanilla. 88 Pts.

Source: Bibendum Wine Co. Price: $15 (375 ml) Closure: Screwcap

Web: www.argueso.es

Herederos de Argueso Manzanilla

Dave Worthington — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 00:11:11 +0000

You may know these guys from their very popular San Leon Classica Manzanilla. Most of the Manzanilla that gets shipped out to Australia is about 8 years old. However, this is a very young manzailla, with 4 years in wood. This leaves it with a bright, fresh outlook and a touch of flor character. It’s manzilla with the training wheels on, but at the same time I love the freshness and vibrancy. Fresh bottles will be very important with this style, Bibendum are regularly shipping this stuff out so you’re in good hands.

Very pale in the glass, with the lightest bit of gold tint. Aromas of fresh apple and white field flowers with some yeasty flor character mixed in. In the mouth it’s fairly straight forward, but that bright fresh quality carries it off. Almonds and yeasty flor, a bit of apple and a sage/wintergreen note on the long finish. A great introduction to the style if you’re a bit sheepish about getting into manzanilla or a refreshing summer drink if you’re already a convert. 88 Pts.

Source: Bibendum Wine Co. Price: $14 (375 ml) Closure: Screwcap

Web: www.argueso.es

Gonzalez Byass Alfonso Oloroso

Dave Worthington — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 03:26:06 +0000

I’m getting to the end of the box of Gonzalez Byass sherries. It has been great to be able to look at almost the entire range at all quality levels, the good thing about these wines is that they are available just about everywhere in Australia. This oloroso is a straight palomino, its just a pup at 5 years old…

A fairly full and slightly sweet on nose with walnuts, vanilla, varnish, mixed peel and generally crushed, mixed nuts. Luxurious in the mouth, dry with good texture and balance. It finishes a bit short, but enjoyable none the less. Cashews and walnuts, Christmas spices and woody notes. A good showing and plenty of value at this price point. 90 Pts.

Source: Broadway Liquor Distributors Price: $30 (750ml) Closure: Cork Stopper

Web: www.gonzalezbyass.com

Gonzalez Byass Apostles Palo Cortado

Dave Worthington — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 23:16:40 +0000

I think this is the first Palo Cortado I have done a full post on, which is strange as I love the style. So what is Palo Cortado? Well it’s not a fino and it’s not an oloroso, it’s a wine that goes a bit weird in initial stages of aging and doesn’t show the traits of either fino or oloroso. It’s a rare thing when it happens naturally, however there are now bodegas that make an artificial style. Don’t ask me how that works, I have no idea.

A nose of Christmas cake, vanilla and wood, with some medicinal herbs. Initially there is a burst of sweetness, but this quickly moves on a very savoury, dry palate. Roasted almonds and a kind of pop corn flavour with orange peel and a light mocha note. Intriguing wine, there is quite a lot going on here but that long warm nutty finish almost makes you not worry about it. 91 Pts.

Source: Broadway Liquor Distributors Price: $50 (375ml) Closure: Cork Stopper

Web: www.gonzalezbyass.com

Gonzalez Byass ‘Del Duque’ Amontillado

Dave Worthington — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 23:55:10 +0000

The heating at Casa Tinto y Blanco is not really up to scratch at the moment, so a glass or two of good sherry is in order to keep yourself warm in the Melbourne winter. I’m not sure if it’s the warming effects of the alcohol or the intoxicating effects, but after I couple I don’t seem to notice the cold anymore. So I’m very thankful to Broadway Liquor for sending in this, it’s an excellent example of old Amontillado.

Notes of cedery wood and walnuts with hints of old leather. I’d like to say sweet fruit as well, but its more orange peel and spice. Plenty of great old wood character with some varnishy tobaccaco notes, and walnuts on the palate. I rarely talk about tannins in sherry, but this has very soft tannins on the very long finish. It’s quite full on, but very dry and flavoursome. 92 Pts.

Source: Broadway Liquor Distributors Price: $50 (375ml) Closure: Cork Stopper

Web: www.gonzalezbyass.com

Tio Pepe Fino (375ml)

Dave Worthington — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 23:33:43 +0000

I’ve written this wine up before, but it’s such a classic I’m writing it up again. One of things with sherry is that it does change slightly from each drawing of the solera. It’s kind of like NV or MV champagne in that different disgorgement dates can be different wines altogether. The aim is to have a consistent house style and flavour, but there are always some small difference.I don’t know the bottling date on this one, but I’m sure that it is reasonably fresh.

I got home last night and decided that a bit of cooked up chorizo and some mushrooms in cream and garlic was the menu for dinner. The mushrooms need a splash of sherry or wine, so what better excuse to open a bottle. Plus I have some Tio Pepe copitas I bought back from Spain years ago, so Tio Pepe was the drink of choice…

Very pale in colour (don’t believe the picture, photoshop has tinted the colour a bit darker when I converted from RAW to JPEG) with a fine nose of apples, a touch of lemon and orange peel, almonds and light flor character. Long and lively in the mouth with plenty of nuts, a shake of salt and orange peel. Balanced with crisp acidity. Not as precise and harmonious as my last bottle, but still a great fino. 90 Pts

Source: Broadway Liquor Distributors Price: $17 (375ml) Closure: Cork Stopper

Web: www.gonzalezbyass.com

Bodegas Hidalgo ‘Pastrana’ Manzanilla Pasada

Dave Worthington — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 21:00:10 +0000

I stopped by Rathdowne Cellars on Saturday morning in search of Manzanilla and found this puppy. It comes in a full 750ml bottle so you can have two binges from the one bottle. For our non-Australian visitors, the Australian Government is about to release new alcohol guidelines that assert that more than 4 standard drinks in one day is a ‘binge’ on alcohol, and that any more than 2 drinks a day is harmful. 4 standard drinks is about 3 glasses of wine.
Its an unusual sherry for more than just the bottle size, its a single vineyard wine which is quite rare but not un heard of. Like champagne, most sherry is made from a range of vineyards and then blended. The whole story is on the front label, so I won’t spoil the read for you.
Apples and chamomile on the nose with some almonds and light flor notes. Very delicate, mellow and smooth in the mouth, quite nutty but refreshing. The palate shows plenty of typical manzanilla notes of apple, almonds, a bit of salt and yeasty bread. Less salty than expected. A warm finish that lingers for quite a while. Highly drinkable and an excellent with food too. 92 Pts

Source: Rathdowne Cellars Price: $34 Closure: Cork Stopper

Web: www.vinicola-hidalgo.es

Lustau “Escuadrilla” Amontillado

Dave Worthington — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 22:06:27 +0000

Just a quick note today, I've got a load of painting to finish off before the end of the week. I'm mainly a fino/manzanilla guy, but I do enjoy a bit of older sherry action from time to time. Amontillado is a handy style as it goes well with cheese and is great with soup to start off a meal.

In the glass its the colour of molasses. Fresh and vibrant nose of crushed almonds and peacans, coffee, and a touch of orange rind. In the mouth its savoury and mouth coating, but balanced by the acid and a touch of heat. Good length with an orange and coffee twist. Goes well with a wedge of hard cheese. 90 Pts.

Source: Boccaccio Cellars Price: $19 (375ml) Closure: Conventional Cork

Web: www.emilio-lustau.com

Sánchez Romate “Marismeño” Fino

Dave Worthington — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 02:15:38 +0000

Its good summer's day in Melbourne today, not too hot, but sunny. Perfect for fino. Well any day is a good day for sherry really. So out came the olives, jamon, white anchovies and a bottle of fino for lunch today. Now this is living…

Almonds, apples, honeysuckle, orange blossom, and yeasty flor character. Tangy and fresh in the mouth with a slice of acid that really cleans the palate. A lingering finish with sea spray and anise. Almonds, tangy flor and a touch a anise and lemon peel on the palate. Great with snacky cured meats and fish. 92 Pts.

Source: The Spanish Acquisition Price: $30 (750ml) Closure: Cork Stopper

Web: www.romate.com

Herederos de Argueso San Leon Manzanilla

Dave Worthington — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 22:55:38 +0000

I was out at lunch last week and ordered a glass of Manzanilla to kick things off. One of the guys said "I'll have one too". I was quite surprised, so I said "you know I just ordered Sherry?" "Oh, I thought you ordered a refreshing white wine" was his reply. And he was right. At 15% Manzanilla is about the same as a glass of chardonnay these days, and is the ultimate refresher in these days of climate change.

San Leon is new in town, adding to what seems to be a growing list of Manzanilla available in Australia. Like most sherry houses, Herederos de Argueso has been around since the dawn of time and produces the full range of wines. It is one of the leading manzanillas in the UK actually.

Very pale, almost colourless. Classic nose, salt spray, chamomile, roasted nuts and flor. Refreshing and highly drinkable. This is not a simple sherry, the palate is complex, but subtle. More nuts, light sea salt and tangy apple. There is also a mealy character that I find very interesting. You will need to order a couple of these, it goes all too quickly. 92 Pts.

Source: Toro/Woods Wines Price: Around $18 (375ml) Closure: Screwcap

Web: www.argueso.es

Lustau Solera Reserva Jarana Fino

Dave Worthington — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 00:33:07 +0000

I still have a fridge full of Sherry, it has been very civilised to come home from work to a glass or two.

What makes Jerez and surrounds such a good place to make sherry? As always, there are a couple of things that make this area unique. Firstly the climate, but also the soil. They call it albariza, and its a fine, chalky soil. Its a start contrast to the other soil types in the area and is perfect for growing palomino in the hot dry conditions.

Lustau have been around for quite some time and produce a huge range of sherries. This one comes from their middle tier range.

Fine and light on the nose, almonds and apple with a hint of salt and flor. Its a fruit plate in the mouth, crisp apple and nuts with an orange like tang on the finish. Fresh, light and zingy is a good way to sum it up. So well balanced, its far too easy to drink. This would be a good introduction to dry sherry, as well as making the old hands very happy. 90 Pts.

Source: Rathdowne Cellars Price: $15 (375ml) Closure: Cork Stopper

Web: www.emilio-lustau.com

La Guitana Manzanilla

Dave Worthington — Sat, 25 Nov 2006 23:45:09 +0000

The gypsy girl, possibly the best known manzanilla, you could say she is the face of Manzanilla. The picture on the label was painted byJoaquín Turina. Again this is a very popular manzanilla, its the drink of choice in the bars of Seville, which must be the sherry drinking capital of the world.

This bottle is getting towards the end of its drinking life having been bottled in January this year, but it is still showing very well looks fresh. A fresher bottle (less than 6 months in bottle) may go up a point.

Very pale with aromas of sea spray and almonds with a great yeasty, flor character oozing the essence of good manzanilla. Dry, refreshing and balanced in the mouth, more lightly salted nuts, bitter herbs and a touch of apple. 88 Pts.

Source: Rathdowne Cellars Price: Around $16.50 (500ml) Closure: Cork Stopper

Web: www.vinicola-hidalgo.es

Valdespino Inocente Fino

Dave Worthington — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 22:17:49 +0000

Back to sherry, and a very good one at that. Valdespino Inocente Fino is renowned as a great fino, all the big names have given it the nod. Valdespino claims to be the oldest bodega in Jerez, they have been making the stuff for 700 years so they could well be. However, the current business has been going since 1875

Very pale, almost neutral in colour, with a slight yellow/green tint. A beautiful sherry fino nose, green apple, almonds and a slight note of iodine. Its dry and bursting with freshness in the mouth, jam packed full of classic flavours: a light bitter herb and a yeasty, woody character mixed in with some salty nuts. Complex and refreshing. Nicely balanced, it has a prick of acid and a nice smooth finish. A classic. How can wine this good be so cheap? 92 Pts.

Source: Importer Sample Price: Around $17 (375ml) Closure: Cork Stopper

Importer: Negociants Australia