96 Points Critical Acclaimed by Wine & Spirits

The wines that make up this Palo Cortado have an average age of more than 25 years. Originally, it was aged in Calle Ponce in the city of Jerez; hence the initials still printed on the label. During aging, the wine is refreshed with Fino Inocente and Amontillado Tío Diego, two other top bottlings in Valdespino’s portfolio. The end result is a wine that smells smoky and rich in caramelized flavor, but tastes dry to the bone; all those ripe flavors become the purest mineral impressions. A sense of chalky albariza soil floods the palate as the acidity tingles along the tongue, leading the way into a vertical wine, intense and vibrant.

93 Points Critical Acclaimed by Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

The NV Palo Cortado Viejo C.P. produced from Palomino from the Macharnudo Alto is feed with specific casks of Fino Inocente and Amontillado Tio Diego. It was traditionally aged in the Calle Ponce (Ponce Street), and if has kept the C.P. initials since then. It’s not age-certified, but the average age of the bottled wine is 25 years. The color is old gold or light amber, and the nose hints at a relatively old wine, with plenty of lactic notes, sweet vanilla, iodine, bitter oranges and spices. The palate is clean and delineated, subtle and on the elegant side of Palo Cortado, ending very dry. Drink 2013-2016.

I’ve often called Valdespino “the Romanee-Conti of Jerez.” Well, there, I’ve said it. To me they represent quality and tradition at the very top of the Sherry hierarchy. The winery, soleras and brands are old, registered in 1875, but with documentation about their commercial and winegrowing activities going back to the 13th century. Their recent history starts in 1999, when Jose Estevez purchases the company from the Valdespino family. Today Valdespino is the jewel in the crown of the Grupo Estevez, which also includes Real Tesoro and La Guita, who stock and age 35,000 botas of Sherry and own 800 hectares of vineyards, 56 of which come from the Pago Macharnudo, on pure white albariza soil, one of the best vineyards in the Marco de Jerez, and 17 hectares from the heart of Macharnudo are still fermented in bota today and form the core of brands like Inocente, Tio Diego, CP or Cardenal. All the wines were carefully and slowly moved to the new facilities of the Grupo Estevez on the outskirts of Jerez, where they continue their development under the supervision of Eduardo Ojeda, technical director, winemaker, who as a wine-lover is very aware of his role preserving these old soleras, wines and traditions.

93 Points Critical Acclaimed by Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

The NV Don Gonzalo Oloroso 20 Anos VOS, produced with Palomino grapes from the Carrascal vineyards, is fermented in stainless steel and aged for over 20 years in oak botas. It is a very serious Oloroso, even if it’s not totally dry. It offers bitter almonds, hazelnuts, incense, Cuban cigar ash, and dark chocolate as well as a complex, a very intense, round and ample palate. This wine really fills your mouth. Very intense and with great acidity, it represents very good value for the quality it delivers. A tamed beast.

I’ve often called Valdespino “the Romanee-Conti of Jerez.” Well, there, I’ve said it. To me they represent quality and tradition at the very top of the Sherry hierarchy. The winery, soleras and brands are old, registered in 1875, but with documentation about their commercial and winegrowing activities going back to the 13th century. Their recent history starts in 1999, when Jose Estevez purchases the company from the Valdespino family. Today Valdespino is the jewel in the crown of the Grupo Estevez, which also includes Real Tesoro and La Guita, who stock and age 35,000 botas of Sherry and own 800 hectares of vineyards, 56 of which come from the Pago Macharnudo, on pure white albariza soil, one of the best vineyards in the Marco de Jerez, and 17 hectares from the heart of Macharnudo are still fermented in bota today and form the core of brands like Inocente, Tio Diego, CP or Cardenal. All the wines were carefully and slowly moved to the new facilities of the Grupo Estevez on the outskirts of Jerez, where they continue their development under the supervision of Eduardo Ojeda, technical director, winemaker, who as a wine-lover is very aware of his role preserving these old soleras, wines and traditions.

92 Points Critical Acclaimed by Wine Spectator

Features toffee, singed alder and steeped tobacco leaf notes, but remains polished, with a caressing feel, offering accents of bitters, cardamom and clove on the finish. Shows an understated intensity.

Gonzalez Byass Apostoles Palo Cortado Sherry Winemaker Notes

Dark amber in color with aromas of concentrated fruits. A complex wine, smooth and intense with notes of caramel and mature wood wtih a smooth and long finish. More than 30 years of aging lend this very old Palo Cortado a spectacular concentration.

Blend: 87% Palomino, 13% Pedro Ximinez

93 Points Critical Acclaimed by Wine Enthusiast

Aromas of burnt orange and baking spices are upright and snappy for a Sherry that’s fairly creamy. Fine acidity is what keeps this on an even keel and what gives lift to flavors of caramel, brown sugar and candied walnut. This is full and voluminous on the finish.

92 Points Critical Acclaimed by  Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

The NV Apostoles VORS is a blend of Palomino made into Palo Cortado and 10% Pedro Ximenez, assembled after their first five years of aging after which they completed their 30 years in barrel together. It shows a mahogany color and a predominant note of raisins among the hazelnuts, candied fruit and sweet vanilla. The off-dry palate has intense flavors of dates, dry figs and raisins, with great persistence and length. The blending makes it very approachable and good to combine with cured cheeses. A unique, off-dry Palo Cortado.

91 Points Critical Acclaimed by Wine Spectator

Takes a flattering approach, featuring a lightly sweet, rounded edge to the date, blood orange, toasted pecan and fruitcake aromas and flavors, with toasted marshmallow and bourbon-glazed peach notes on the finish.

Emilio Hidalgo La Panesa Especial Fino Sherry Winemaker Notes

All finos develop under the veil of flor and this is evident on the nose of this wine, showing its bready, yeasty character. This Especial shows typical hints of yeast, but is fuller and rounder on the palate than the regular Panesa bottling.
This wine can stand up to fuller-flavored dishes such as salmon a la plancha, sesame-seared ahi tuna, or gazpacho.

96 Points Critical Acclaimed by Wine & Spirits

“Fino Amontillado” is a style of Sherry that’s virtually extinct. It was made from old wines that had almost lost their flor and had begun to oxidize, their color darkening as they gained depth and complexity. Although La Panesa is not, strictly speaking, a Fino Amontillado, it has the characteristics of those wines from the past. With an average of 15 years of aging in solera (ten more than most Finos), it takes the lifespan of flor to the limit, creating a wine that’s intoxicating in its mineral and dried-fruit fragrance. Bone dry, saline flavors drive the wine from beginning to end, their abundance leaving no room for sweetness. This is the definition of verticality and elegance.

92 Points Critical Acclaimed by Wine Spectator

Shows lots of range, featuring singed persimmon, dried nectarine, walnut and green tea notes, with a long bitter almond note on the finish. A big fino with invigorating acidity.

90 Points Critical Acclaimed by Wine Enthusiast

Tan in color and elegant beyond what’s normal, this high-end fino shows full, complex aromas of honey, citrus, rancio, dried gouda cheese and nuttiness. It feels both easy and fresh, with dry, intense flavors of citrus and almond. Long and smooth on the finish, with zero burn or bite.

Barbadillo Oloroso Seco Cuco Winemaker Notes

Mahogany in color. Pleasant aromas, reminiscent of noble oak from its ageing period and dried fruit. Mouth-filling and beautifully dry on the palate.

91 Points Critical Acclaimed by Wine & Spirits

A vivid oloroso, buoyed by its lively acidity and lemon zest notes. It’s the opposite of the Corregidor above, not sweet at all but full of walnut-skin and almond, rancio and citrus flavors, bracing and intense.

90 Points Critical Acclaimed by Wine Spectator

An intense oloroso, that wears its cloak of toffee, cocoa and mocha over a sinewy frame. Terrific cut on the dry finish, etching the flavors into a bracing conclusion. Long nutty aftertaste