Press Review - i-WineReview - Sherry

01.20.16

FERNANDO DE CASTILLA Antique Fino || 94 points
“This is a superb fino that is complex and rich yet maintains the saline, flor-influenced freshness one seeks in a Fino. Redolent of tangy citrus, brine, lightly toasted nuts, and resin, the wine is intricately layered, both on the nose and the palate. Finishes with lovely length. Sourced from the Pago Balbaino estate vineyard with its very high limestone content. Aged in American oak butts under flor for 8 years.”

FERNANDO DE CASTILLA Antique Palo Cortado || 93 points
“Amber-copper. Showing a complex mélange of toasted almond, vanilla-caramel with hints of tangy orange and leather, this is a densely flavored Palo Cortado with complex aromas and flavors. Has a very persistent finish. The average Solera age of this wine is over 30 years, so it is technically a VORS.”

FERNANDO DE CASTILLA Antique Amontillado || 91 points
“Medium amber. Shows pleasant, straightforward aromatic of caramel and orange marmalade that are mirrored on the medium weight palate. Orange zest shows on the nose.”

FERNANDO DE CASTILLA Antique Oloroso || 92 points
“Showing roasted hazelnuts and walnuts, figs, candied orange rind, and a touch of coffee liqueur, this is a dry, complex and quite refined Oloroso well worth the price. Made of 100% Palomino, the Antique Oloroso is aged in Solera an average of 20 years.”

FERNANDO DE CASTILLA Pedro Ximenez || 92 points
“Showing dates, creamy milk chocolate, and an espresso note on the nose and also picked up as palate flavors. The wine is silky smooth, fine and very pure.”

BODEGAS TRADICIÓN Fino Viejo || 92 points
“Medium gold. This is an aged Fino (average 12 years) on the edge of being Amontillado. It’s a complex wine with saline notes and is big on palate.”

BODEGAS TRADICIÓN Cream VOS || 92 points
“Amber gold. Not your grandma’s Cream Sherry, this wine shows exceptional balance with just the right amount of sweet fig, raisin, and Christmas cake with notes of tangy orange marmalade. Delicious.”

BODEGAS TRADICIÓN Pedro Ximenez VOS || 93 points
“Opaque brown. aromatic and unctuous with notes of liquid raisins, honeyed figs, licorice, espresso, toffee, and burnt sugar. Amazing palate density. Made of 70% very old Oloroso and 30% PX. The solera has an average age of 22 years.”

BODEGAS TRADICIÓN Amontillado VORS || 95 points
“An elegant Amontillado from a solera with an average age of 45 years, this very special, elegant wine offers complex, pungent aromas and flavors of almonds and honeycomb with marine notes on a silky smooth, very dry palate, finishing with superb length. The Amontillado begins life with a decade under flor in seasoned American oak barrels and then passes several decades through Amontillado Criaderas and Soleras.”

BODEGAS TRADICIÓN Palo Cortado VORS || 95 points
“The VORS Palo Cortado is one of the most refined Sherries tasted for this report. It shows a fabulous nose of rich milk caramel, red cherry and orange zest and has a sumptuous creamy attack leading to a finely-honed, balanced and integrated palate. Finishes on a bright, tangy note. The solera has an average age of 32 years. RS 4 g/L”

BODEGAS TRADICIÓN Oloroso VORS || 95 points
“This is an incredibly rich and complex Oloroso with an effusive bouquet. It shows aromas and flavors of toasted hazelnut, balsamic, and dried apricot with sublte notes of walnut oil and leather. It’s an elegant yet poweful wine with an exceptionally long, flavorful finish. The solera has an average age of 45 years.”