Awards and citations:


1997: Le Prix du Champagne Lanson Noble Cuvée Award for investigations into Champagne for the Millennium investment scams

2001: Le Prix Champagne Lanson Ivory Award for investdrinks.org

2011: Vindic d'Or MMXI – 'Meilleur blog anti-1855'

2011: Robert M. Parker, Jnr: ‘This blogger...’:

2012: Born Digital Wine Awards: No Pay No Jay – best investigative wine story

2012: International Wine Challenge – Personality of the Year Award




Sunday 24 April 2016

Sherries to the fore at the Big Fortifed Tasting


Jerez: 
The annual Big Fortified Tasting (BFT), held in London, is always a great opportunity to taste some really interesting fortified wines. However since the wines are high in alcohol, there is a limit to the number I can comfortably taste, even though I am careful to spit out. This year I chose to concentrate on some of the excellent range of sherries on show choosing to taste from those bodegas that I haven't visited during the #winelover trip to Jerez in mid-February. I then finished with the Quevedo Ports that Oscar Quevedo was showing. 

Firstly – Bodegas Tradición
This is a small bodega, which has recently been revived, but that dates back to 1650. I tasted a lovely fresh, complex Fino, a good Amontillado and a very special Oloroso – see below. 

 


A series of great sherries from Viniberia, selected by Peter Dauthieu:


Attractive, fresh but characterful Fino from Sánchez Romate – just £8.50 a bottle from The Wine Society.


Excellent Amontillado from Sánchez Romate – lovely nutty, texture.


Palo Cortado – an attractive and striking blend of rich texture and an austere finish.
 




Very fine aged Oloroso – texture with a lovely blend of richness, power and austerity. £40 a bottle from The Wine Society.

Valdespino – one of my favourite Sherry producers:


The 2015 Manzanilla En Rama showing brilliantly at the moment. 


Palo Cortado Viejo: lovely balance of power and texture.


Two very special Sherries with concentration, texture and impressive length.


Ports from Quevedo: 


From Port producer Quevedo I particularly enjoyed the complex 30 Year Old Port as well as the dense Crusted Port with its preserved cherry character. 











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