The joy of sherry, vino de Jerez
- Thread starter Badger Kitten
- Start date
lang rabbie
Je ne regrette les gazebos
I can confirm reports that prior to its closing down to become a Co-op, the Somerfield at Streatham Hill is selling off its overstock of 50cl bottles of La Gitana at the amazing price of £2.18 a bottle!!!
Oh my word!!!!!
I'm not going to be around for a few days. Can anyone pick me up a bottle or three?
lang rabbie
Je ne regrette les gazebos
Market Row Wines @MarketRowWines (recently opened at Unit 20 in Brixton's Market Row) have a very small stock of a limited bottling "en rama" Manzanilla. So of course I was sucked in and bought some (£11.49 for a 37.5cl bottle).
[sherry porn]
I THINK Manzanilla En Rama
[/sherry porn]
After being tempted by several other interesting bottles, the rest of my shopping was confined to the fishmonger and 99p shop, and I will be living on pulses for the rest of the month.
[sherry porn]
I THINK Manzanilla En Rama
[/sherry porn]
After being tempted by several other interesting bottles, the rest of my shopping was confined to the fishmonger and 99p shop, and I will be living on pulses for the rest of the month.
Riklet
procrastinación
The supermarkets seem to have a great range available in sherries currently. Is sherry "in" or making a comeback? I've got really into it over the past few years, particularly the drier sherries.
Waitrose's range is significantly better than you can get in a Spanish supermarket, for example. All of them seem to get their own-brand versions made by Lustau but Sainsbury's dry amontillado is Williams and Humbert - at 7 quid for a litre... mmm
I definitely plan on heading down to Jerez and Sanlucar to visit some bodegas this September!
Waitrose's range is significantly better than you can get in a Spanish supermarket, for example. All of them seem to get their own-brand versions made by Lustau but Sainsbury's dry amontillado is Williams and Humbert - at 7 quid for a litre... mmm
I definitely plan on heading down to Jerez and Sanlucar to visit some bodegas this September!
Riklet
procrastinación
Bump.
Sherry fans, Waitrose is now selling a new bottle in their 10 quid fancy sherry range. They are all excellent.
The new one however is a manzanilla pasada made for Lustau probs by a Salucar almacenista. Top quality product and unmissable for the price. You cant even get such good manzanilla in Spain for that price.
Sherry fans, Waitrose is now selling a new bottle in their 10 quid fancy sherry range. They are all excellent.
The new one however is a manzanilla pasada made for Lustau probs by a Salucar almacenista. Top quality product and unmissable for the price. You cant even get such good manzanilla in Spain for that price.
lang rabbie
Je ne regrette les gazebos
Is that the 'El Benito' ???
Riklet
procrastinación
Yep, they seem to have rebranded them. Link with info. I liked the amontillado too. All Lustau supposedly but theyre def not making any wines in Sanlucar directly so I reckon either another big name like Hidalgo or a smaller almacenista.
My dad rates it as best sherry he's had for ages. Ive got a 20+ year old bottle of Gonzalez Byass manzanilla still to try here though.... hrmm!
If you find yourself presently in Spain, eroski's Albamonte Manzanilla de Sanlucar, made by La Gitana, is a steal:
Manzanilla ALBAMONTE, botella 75 cl
and Carrefour are selling Williams and Humbert's Los Seises at three for the price of two:
Manzanilla Los Seises - Carrefour supermercado compra online
so much the same price.
And La Ina costs 12 quid in the UK ¡Olé!
Manzanilla ALBAMONTE, botella 75 cl
and Carrefour are selling Williams and Humbert's Los Seises at three for the price of two:
Manzanilla Los Seises - Carrefour supermercado compra online
so much the same price.
And La Ina costs 12 quid in the UK ¡Olé!
RubyToogood
RubyTwobikes
I just bought a bottle of this. It really is very nice. I missed the bit when buying it however about it needing to be drunk when opened...
After a weekend of rigorous and repeated analysis of the sherries I mentioned I can report that they are both slightly attenuated versions of the 'real thing'.
(They are a bit like everything Lidl: yes it is legally an Alsace Riesling but with two-thirds the rieslingness of most)
But ice-cold when the temperature was 29º they washed down the jamon serrano and the olives so at far less than 3 quid a bottle (50p a glass) who'd complain too much.
(They are a bit like everything Lidl: yes it is legally an Alsace Riesling but with two-thirds the rieslingness of most)
But ice-cold when the temperature was 29º they washed down the jamon serrano and the olives so at far less than 3 quid a bottle (50p a glass) who'd complain too much.
Riklet
procrastinación
Haha yeah I had a look at those ones you suggested, look fine (as long as you dont drink too much!). Even a cheaper bottle of manzanilla or fino in Spain should be the Good Stuff, right? But ive been avoiding the cheapest stuff for a while tbh, too easy to knock back and Ive tried too many tasty others recently.
However, I have over the past year done some nerdy sampling and... research. Maybe useful and of interest for the Spain urbs!!
For well-priced options which are commonly available but still decent quality though, on top of the famous ones like Tio Pepe and La Ina:
La Guita 5e (Mercadona has it)
La Gitana 5e
Barbadillo Solear 5-6e
Williams and Humburt La Alegria Manzanilla 5e (harder to get but top stuff)
Williams and Humburt Fino Pando Muy Seco (green bottle) 5-6e (harder to get)
Osborne Fino Quinta 6e (from El Puerto but now made by Gonzalez Byass apparently)
Tio Nico in Lidl (total cheapo - less than 3 euros but actually decent! Great for cooking if you disagree. Might be made by W&H)
Williams and Humburt Don Zoilo Classic range is like 8-9e for amontillados and olorosos.
Gonzalez Byass Viña AB amontillado and Alfonso Oloroso are like 7-9e and excellent quality for the price.
La Bailaora Manzanilla and some other cheaper sherries from Real Tresoro (owned by Estevez group which also owns Guita and Inocente) in Mercadona. 2.50 - 6e
Similar cheaper range in Corte Ingles and Supercor for 2.50-6e too, also made by Estevez (not clear on the bottle but I checked - could even be same stuff as Mercadona's marca blanca)
Al Campo also does a cheaper range from 3-7e made as a budget version under name Herederos de La Gitana. Never tried but they do seem to be made by La Gitana in Sanlúcar.
NPU amontillado and Regente Palo cortado by Sánchez Romate are both sold in Corte Ingles and elsewhere but are excellent value for money if you wanna splash out. 15-18e but should last a month or more.
Tienda Gourmet in bigger Corte Ingles sell basic range Fenando de Castilla Fino and Manzanilla for 9e too and Tio Pepe en Rama for 15e a big bottle. (!!)
If you like sweet sherry and PX there is a good range of very good stuff in Corte Ingles for like 6-12e including Valdespino, Sánchez Romate and Spinola PX.
Bigger Carrefours sometimes sell La Gitana Manzanilla Pasada for like 12e a bottle I think. Expensive for Spain I guess!
However, I have over the past year done some nerdy sampling and... research. Maybe useful and of interest for the Spain urbs!!
For well-priced options which are commonly available but still decent quality though, on top of the famous ones like Tio Pepe and La Ina:
La Guita 5e (Mercadona has it)
La Gitana 5e
Barbadillo Solear 5-6e
Williams and Humburt La Alegria Manzanilla 5e (harder to get but top stuff)
Williams and Humburt Fino Pando Muy Seco (green bottle) 5-6e (harder to get)
Osborne Fino Quinta 6e (from El Puerto but now made by Gonzalez Byass apparently)
Tio Nico in Lidl (total cheapo - less than 3 euros but actually decent! Great for cooking if you disagree. Might be made by W&H)
Williams and Humburt Don Zoilo Classic range is like 8-9e for amontillados and olorosos.
Gonzalez Byass Viña AB amontillado and Alfonso Oloroso are like 7-9e and excellent quality for the price.
La Bailaora Manzanilla and some other cheaper sherries from Real Tresoro (owned by Estevez group which also owns Guita and Inocente) in Mercadona. 2.50 - 6e
Similar cheaper range in Corte Ingles and Supercor for 2.50-6e too, also made by Estevez (not clear on the bottle but I checked - could even be same stuff as Mercadona's marca blanca)
Al Campo also does a cheaper range from 3-7e made as a budget version under name Herederos de La Gitana. Never tried but they do seem to be made by La Gitana in Sanlúcar.
NPU amontillado and Regente Palo cortado by Sánchez Romate are both sold in Corte Ingles and elsewhere but are excellent value for money if you wanna splash out. 15-18e but should last a month or more.
Tienda Gourmet in bigger Corte Ingles sell basic range Fenando de Castilla Fino and Manzanilla for 9e too and Tio Pepe en Rama for 15e a big bottle. (!!)
If you like sweet sherry and PX there is a good range of very good stuff in Corte Ingles for like 6-12e including Valdespino, Sánchez Romate and Spinola PX.
Bigger Carrefours sometimes sell La Gitana Manzanilla Pasada for like 12e a bottle I think. Expensive for Spain I guess!
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Riklet
procrastinación
This stuff is THE BOMB. I love it. 12€ is a bargain!! Some good discounts on the Emilio Hidalgo wines too for 20 y pico.
They sell that en rama on Waitrose online and at The Wine Society, too. Luckily got free voucher credit for both of them currently, so I know what should be in my next order (as I'm back living in the UK now).
Went to an excellent Yuste tasting this week with some wicked food and 5 sherries, was really good value and top quality wines, very impressed by their amontillado and oloroso particularly, and their moscatel is delicious. Manzanilla pasada was rather good but not as amazing as I was expecting.
Got a bottle of Bodegas Tradición Fino as well, and since it's Sherry Week currently might even crack it open this weekend. Any more recent sherry converts?
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cathal marcs
Well-Known Member
I'm a huge sherry fan! Funnily enough, I have recently been posted to Jerez this year for work. Here are some of the sherries I have drunk over the last year.
These two are by Juan Piñero. The fino is a somewhat more serious fino that has an average age of around 8 years and the Palo Cortado has been my surprise of the year along with that of Cayetano del Pino.
Fino Coquinero
is another mature Fino (fino-amontillado) that is now showing certain characteristics of an amontillado as the veil of flor has died and has started a brief oxidative aging process. Sadly, these styles seem to have gone out of fashion in favour of younger more filtered styles.
Although the following are not from Jerez here are some Finos, Amontillados and PXs that are from Montilla(where Amontillado gets its name from). The Amontillado by Navarro is over 25 years old and is an absolute joy as are the wines by Gran Barquero and Bodegas Alvear. The Fino Cebollas is also very old with an average age of 15 years.
These two are by Juan Piñero. The fino is a somewhat more serious fino that has an average age of around 8 years and the Palo Cortado has been my surprise of the year along with that of Cayetano del Pino.
Fino Coquinero
is another mature Fino (fino-amontillado) that is now showing certain characteristics of an amontillado as the veil of flor has died and has started a brief oxidative aging process. Sadly, these styles seem to have gone out of fashion in favour of younger more filtered styles.
Although the following are not from Jerez here are some Finos, Amontillados and PXs that are from Montilla(where Amontillado gets its name from). The Amontillado by Navarro is over 25 years old and is an absolute joy as are the wines by Gran Barquero and Bodegas Alvear. The Fino Cebollas is also very old with an average age of 15 years.
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cathal marcs
Well-Known Member
If you like sherries, you might find Dorados (from the Rueda region) interesting. Some are aged biologically others go through an oxidative aging process.
Here are some more Sherries that I have tried out over the last year.
Here are some more Sherries that I have tried out over the last year.
cathal marcs
Well-Known Member
Was that Kika?
Riklet
procrastinación
Yeah La Kika. The most horrible horrendous bottle design with the naff viva españa banderita tho. Good manzanilla pasada but not one of my favourites, if I'm honest. That barbiana with navajas looks pretty fucking amazing btw, nice match. And some fantastic pics there btw cathal marcs I am well impressed.
I'm a big fan of Juan Piñero's wines but you can't really get them outa Spain. The camborio and the palo cortado i've both tried and they are LUSH, in fact I think camborio is one of my fav finos. Look out for his VORS amontillados and olorosos and he's also released a few not quite as old ones which are cheaper and I got for an excellent price in Madrid.
The solera for Camborio has been sold AFAIK, edit: was bought by Peter Sissek of Pingus fame, apparently.
I'm a big fan of Juan Piñero's wines but you can't really get them outa Spain. The camborio and the palo cortado i've both tried and they are LUSH, in fact I think camborio is one of my fav finos. Look out for his VORS amontillados and olorosos and he's also released a few not quite as old ones which are cheaper and I got for an excellent price in Madrid.
The solera for Camborio has been sold AFAIK, edit: was bought by Peter Sissek of Pingus fame, apparently.
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cathal marcs
Well-Known Member
I think the Juan Piñeros are excellent value for money. Their standard ranges aren't much more expensive than some of the more commercial wineries, but are far superior in quality. You can find Camborio for around 6-7 euros, only a euro more than Solear, La Gitana etc
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MrSki
Who am I to say you're wrong
I love a good sherry & have enjoyed being a guest at family events in Andulicia . They fucking neck it! Drunk like wine. & just a heads up it is £s on urban not frecking euros.
Saw off some Valdespino Cream last night. Very walnutty in colour and taste.
Unsurprisingly difficult to buy anything other than Rioja round here!
Unsurprisingly difficult to buy anything other than Rioja round here!
The sun's out and the Tio Nico is in the fridge.
cathal marcs
Well-Known Member
I think it's time to bump this thread as I have tried a lot of interesting stuff since I last posted.
Amontillado Manuel Cuevas in Lustau's almacenista range
Lustau East India Solera. I am not a huge fan of Cream but this is something else and somewhat more complex than your typical creams like Canasta etc
Contrabandista, by Valdespino. Personally, I prefer bone dry amontillados, but this was interesting to try
Cruz Vieja Fino en Rama, Bodegas Faustino González.
San Leon, Reserva de la Familia. A slightly dissapointing manzanilla pasada by Bodega Argüeso.
Fernandez-Gao is an excellent bodega that produces high range old Sherry. Most are well over 20 years old. I can't recommend them enough. Their Oloroso and Palo Cortado are sublime, likewise, their off-dry wines like the Medium Sweet show that these wines when done well are just as serious as any dry counterpart. P.S. the wine De Ecclesia is apt for communion wine.
Amontillado Manuel Cuevas in Lustau's almacenista range
Lustau East India Solera. I am not a huge fan of Cream but this is something else and somewhat more complex than your typical creams like Canasta etc
Contrabandista, by Valdespino. Personally, I prefer bone dry amontillados, but this was interesting to try
Cruz Vieja Fino en Rama, Bodegas Faustino González.
San Leon, Reserva de la Familia. A slightly dissapointing manzanilla pasada by Bodega Argüeso.
Fernandez-Gao is an excellent bodega that produces high range old Sherry. Most are well over 20 years old. I can't recommend them enough. Their Oloroso and Palo Cortado are sublime, likewise, their off-dry wines like the Medium Sweet show that these wines when done well are just as serious as any dry counterpart. P.S. the wine De Ecclesia is apt for communion wine.
cathal marcs
Well-Known Member
The following two wines are by Bodega Sanchez Romate. NPU is a classic Amontillado while Fino Perdido is a vero old Fino (classically called Fino-Amontillado), where it has started to show signs of oxidization and beginning the process of becoming an amontillado.
Oloroso Bailen is made by Osborne in el Puerto de Santa María
The Amontillado and Palo Cortado by Cayetano del Pino are incredible. In the past, Lustau sold their wines under the almacenista range.
The wines made by Bodega Tradición again are old. I visited the wine cellar a few months back and I will upload photos in another post.
Manzanilla Aurora in Rama, Bodega Yuste. This one is a special production for a website called Bodeboca.
Fino Cruzado, Las Botas. If I am not mistaken Las Botas group get their wines from other Wine Cellars and sell them under their name, this is from Bodega Yuste.
Fino la Janda is an excellent entry-level fino. It is slightly older and more serious compared to others in its price range. If you see it, don't think twice in trying it.
Oloroso Bailen is made by Osborne in el Puerto de Santa María
The Amontillado and Palo Cortado by Cayetano del Pino are incredible. In the past, Lustau sold their wines under the almacenista range.
The wines made by Bodega Tradición again are old. I visited the wine cellar a few months back and I will upload photos in another post.
Manzanilla Aurora in Rama, Bodega Yuste. This one is a special production for a website called Bodeboca.
Fino Cruzado, Las Botas. If I am not mistaken Las Botas group get their wines from other Wine Cellars and sell them under their name, this is from Bodega Yuste.
Fino la Janda is an excellent entry-level fino. It is slightly older and more serious compared to others in its price range. If you see it, don't think twice in trying it.
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cathal marcs
Well-Known Member
It's Sherry week, how are we all going to celebrate it? I have a nice bottle of Fino La Pandesa which I'll crack open this weekend.
