Alvear’s Fino NV

So here is the second fino from Alvear.  The photo is of the back label, its far more interesting than the front, and it has a nice little map.  This wine has a lot in common with the Fino en Rama, but more aged characters like almonds and dry wood with this bottling.

The usual pale straw colour in the glass, the nose starts of strong with sweet honey, almonds and apple with a twist of orange, old wood notes and a little salt.  The palate is very dry, a complete 180 turn from the off-dry nose and shows tangy, zingy apple cider with roasted almonds.  Light and refreshing.    88 Pts. 

Source:  Toro/Woods Wines Price: Around $25 Closure: Conventional Cork

Web: www.grupoalvear.com

Alvear C.B. Fino NV

I've got a couple of finos to have a look at, both from Alvear in Montilla-Moriles.  This one is slightly cheaper, but they are both good value.  Once upon a time, sherry was the king of drinks (it might still be!) and people were trying to make the stuff all over the place.  These days it is really only Jerez and sournds and Montilla-Moriles.

Pale straw in colour with an odd, estery nose to start with.  This cleaned up nicely in a minute or so to show almond, honey banana, oatmeal, and smoke.  Classic fino palate in the mouth with tangy acid and a bit of mineral and white pepper.  A good budget fino.  86 Pts.

Source:  Toro/Woods Wines Price: Around $20 Closure: Conventional Cork

Web: www.grupoalvear.com

Alvear Cream Sherry NV

Cream sherry.  Hmmm…for some reason I didn't think I'd ever buy a bottle of cream sherry.  I blame this wine for the Nana image that sherry has gained over the years.  You know the stuff, the big 4 litre bottle of "Cream sherry" that Nana has in the pantry, just for cooking she says.  Yeah right.  But really it's the government's fault, the old dear can't afford to buy the good stuff on the pension you see.  I reckon that the pension should include a booze allowance of at least $50, and it must be spent on wine each week.  After all, if you make it to 65 you need a little reward.  I'm sure it would be good for the economy or something too.

Personally, I'm not a fan of the ol' cream sherry, but I do know people who like it (and they are all under 50).  Perhaps I'm a bit harsh: it is a well made wine, it just doesn't float my boat.

Light toffee in colour with a nose of maple and Golden syrup, slight raisins and baking spices.  In the mouth its not too sweet, not too dry.  The palate mirrors the nose fairly much with a bit of spirity hotness now and then.  Its a little bland in the mouth, and that can be a good thing at times, but never with sherry for my tastes.  83 Pts.

Source:  Toro/Woods Wines Price: Around $25 Closure: Conventional Cork

Web: www.grupoalvear.com

Romate La Sacristia de Romate PX NV

The La Sacristia reference in the name refers to the inner sanctum of the bodega that holds the oldest and most treasured sherries.  For a long time this was the domain of the bodega owners, their trusted staff and the odd celebrity or official passing though Jerez.  Some of the bodegas now sell some of this wine off in very small quantities.  As you can imagine, these are not cheap wines, but in terms of world wine values they are outstanding.

Dark red amber in colour.  Really refined on the nose, sure there is the customary raisins, but its the perfect level mixed in with old wood, orange peel, almond and a hint of cinnamon.  Surprisingly fresh and vibrant in the mouth, just stunning balance of all of the elements. Sweet, but restrained in the mouth with raisins, toffee, orange peel and some cinnamon on the monster finish.  If you couldn't tell, I like this a lot.   96 Pts.

Source: The Spanish Acquisition Price: $75 (500ml) Closure: Conventional Cork

Web: www.romate.com

Alvear Solera 1927 PX

Its a strange thing this website/Internet caper.  I spent a bit of time getting rid of a lot of the comment spamers and blog searcher last month but the statistics for this month have still gone up, around 6000 people have had a look at the site so far this month.  It should have gone down if anything, plus I've been slack on posting too!

Anyway this is the older brother of the PX I tasted last month, older material different packaging and a very different wine.  Its rare for me to feel like I could finish a bottle of PX, this was gone in no time.  No need for food, but I had it with some stinky blue cheese from Italy.  I've got another couple of PXes to write up later in the month. 

Like dark honey or molasses in colour, the nose on this is arresting.  Its like sniffing a big bag of sultanas and raisins, with a but of caramelised sugar, orange peel and the odd almond sprinkled over the top.  Its very fluid in the mouth, not heavy and overly sweet.  The flavours is full on PX with refinement and balance.   The palate reflects the noses and the finish goes on for ever.  If you are looking for a very well priced PX to see what its all about this is your wine. 94 Pts.

Source:  Toro/Woods Wines Price: Around $40 (375Ml) Closure: Conventional Cork

Web: www.grupoalvear.com

Alvear PX 1927 Dolce Viejo

Its starting to get cold in Melbourne now, cool nights and nice days.  Even a bit of rain over the weekend (for non-aussie readers, most of Australia has been in drought for the past 5 years).  To celebrate all this I've ordered in some PX to have a look at over the next month or so.

There has been a lot of confusion surrounding this wine and another Alvear PX 1927 that comes in 375ml bottles.  Notice that Dolce Viejo is in the name of this one, thats your first clue.  The 750ml size is the other clue.  They are actually two different soleras, so really two different wines.  The material for this solera has an average age of around 20 years and 405g/l of residual sugar.

Golden syrup, treacle colour in colour.  The nose is full of raisins and dried grapes, intensely rich and concentrated.  Viscus, rich and opulent in the mouth with extreme length and concentration.  There is some old wood, orange peel, huge sweetness and raisiny goodness on the palate.  It is kind of cloying, but that is the point.  The acid keeps your mouth a bit fresh, but this is a one or two glass experience for me.  Well, for one sitting anyway.  89 Pts. 

Source:  Toro/Woods Wines Price: Around $35 Closure: Conventional Cork

Web: www.grupoalvear.com

Alvear Fino en Rama 2002

There are a couple of things about this wine that make it a bit different.  Firstly, it is a vintage sherry, apparently the first of its kind to be made.  Also, its not filtered at all, hence the en Rama in the name.  To cap it all off, its made using Pedro Ximénez (PX to most of us) rather than Palomino. I first tasted this wine at a trade tasting late last year.  I was tasting with a Spanish bloke and when we were told that it was made from PX we looked at each other with disbelief.  You would never pick it, blind or otherwise.

Montilla-Moriles is one of the prime growing areas for PX, a lot of the PX that is labelled as being from Jerez is actually from Montilla-Moriles, it is about the only D.O. I know of that allows this.  Anywhere.

Pale straw in colour, the nose has almonds and apple with slight orange peel, honey suckle and sea spray notes.  Bursting with tangy, fresh apple in the mouth with some honey roasted almonds.  Not a lot of acid here, but enough, overall the wine has a nice balance and remains light.  The finish is very long.  I think I may have a new house fino.  89 Pts

Source:  Toro/Woods Wines Price: Around $20 (375ml) Closure: Conventional Cork

Web: www.grupoalvear.com