Sherry

González Byass Noé Pedro Ximénez VORS — 30 Years, Jerez

Noé is one of the rarest and most extraordinary sherries in existence. Produced by González Byass — the historic house behind Tio Pepe — from sun-dried Pedro Ximénez grapes with a final average age of over 30 years, this VORS (“Very Old Rare Sherry”) is a wine of almost incomprehensible concentration and complexity.

With a sugar level of 400 grams per liter, Noé pours like liquid velvet: deep mahogany, viscous, and intensely aromatic. The nose layers buckwheat honey, Black Forest cake, dried fig, raisin, chocolate, cinnamon, and a haunting balsamic depth. On the palate, the sweetness is perfectly balanced by a bright, racy acidity that is utterly uncommon for wines of this richness — finishing long, fiery, and unforgettable.

James Suckling 95 • Wine Spectator 94 • Wine Enthusiast 94 • Wine Advocate 91

• Producer: González Byass, Jerez de la Frontera, Spain
• Style: Pedro Ximénez VORS Sherry
• Average Age: 30+ Years
• Size: 375ml (Half Bottle)
• ABV: 15.5%
• Residual Sugar: 400 g/L
• Tasting Notes: Buckwheat honey, Black Forest cake, dried fig, raisin, dark chocolate, cinnamon, balsamic
• Best Served: Slightly chilled over vanilla ice cream, with aged cheeses, or as a contemplative digestif

A once-in-a-lifetime sherry experience in a half bottle — perfect for gifting or savoring over an evening. One of the greatest sweet wines in the world.

Winemaker Description 

Harveys Bristol Cream features flavors of roasted nuts and raisins, with a subtly spicy finish. Harveys Bristol Cream is usually served well chilled as an aperitif, as an after-dinner drink straight, or on the rocks with a wedge of lime or slice of orange.

The ice lessens the viscosity and the citrus lowers the sweetness to create a refreshing drink. As a dessert wine, serve with cheesecake, flan, bread pudding or crème brulée. 

Winemaker Description 

Leonor is a 12 year old Palo Cortado Sherry and described as the wild child of Jerez. It shows a light mahogany color with golden tones and a slight orange rim. On the nose intense and complex with notes of hazlenut perfectly balanced with aromas of bitter orange and mature oak. On the palate powerful and intense with toasted notes yet smooth and silky. Due to its power and structure this wine is perfect with mature cheeses and stong meats such as venison. Serve chilled.

Expert Reviews 

93 Points James Suckling | A very elegant example of this rare type of Sherry, which combines the best of Fino freshness with Oloroso richness. Long finish with delicate dried-fruit and toasted-nut character. Drink now. Aged for 12 years in cask. Drink now.

92 Points Wine Spectator | Bright, with fennel seed, Brazil nut, green tea, ginger and hazelnut husk notes that are racy and dry from start to finish. Dried green fig accents add a subtle seduction on the finish.

91 Points Decanter | Aromas of caramel and curry spices. Milk chocolate on the palate with a soft texture and delicate body. A very harmonious wine with a long and spicy finish.

91 Points Wine & Spirits | Elegant and refined, with soft touches of candied cherries, walnuts and almonds, this is a textbook Palo Cortado. Aged 12 years in botas, it falls halfway between Amontillado and Oloroso in flavor, but much closer to the former. It needs only smoked trout.

90 Points Wine Enthusiast | This dry Sherry is a touch hot, with alcohol swirling around the glass, but there’s also complex, welcoming aromas of almond, apricot and toffee. The palate is appropriately rich, with flavors of caramel, toasted nuts and buttered toast. A finish with walnut, truffle and mushroom flavors urges contemplation.

Winemaker Description 

Certainly! The Herederos De Argueso Jerez-Xeres-Sherry Amontillado is a dry and nutty white wine from Andalucia, Spain. It has sharp peanutty aromas and a tawny color with hints of orange. On the palate, it offers sour citrus fruit flavors, burnt nuts, and cocoa, finishing dry and chalky. You can find it in a 375ml half bottle for around $25. It’s a delightful choice for those who appreciate intense, tangy flavors. 🍷🥜🍊

Argeso Amontillado is an exquisite fortified wine of subtlety and grace. On the nose, it unfurls a spectrum of delicate scents reminiscent of hazelnuts and aromatic herbs, with a distinctive hint of dark tobacco.

Upon tasting, its lightness astonishes, yet it retains a marked dryness and a complexity that unfolds gently. This Amontillado exemplifies the artful dance between simplicity and intricacy, presenting a sophisticated and approachable taste experience. 

Expert Reviews 

95 Points Wine & Spirits | Inocente is Valdespino’s flagship, a wine from the Macharnudo Alto vineyard, where the soil is pure white albariza. It ferments in 600-liter wooden casks without added yeasts, a practice that has become increasingly rare in Jerez. The intensity of the wine’s salinity is remarkable—iodine and salt—coming together with ripe white fruit, scents of nuts and exotic spices. The structure is dry and austere, like drinking the juice of stones. This will last for a decade in the cellar, but it’s impossible to hold onto a bottle if there’s raw seafood nearby.

94+ Points Robert Parker | As with many other wines from the José Estévez group, there is a special bottling of Valdespino's flagship NV Fino Inocente in magnum, but in this case they have kept the bottles for six months as the wine is from the saca otoño 2016, the autumn bottling from 2016. So the wine is offered with some extra bottle age. It has all that you expect from Inocente, a long aging wine fermented in bota from grapes grown exclusively in the Macharnudo Alto vineyard and bottled with an average age of ten years. All the textbook aromas and flavors are there, coupled with the elegance and mineral intensity the Macharnudo white chalky soils provide. Customers who purchase one of this scarce magnums probably know Inocente already. This will have a longer development in bottle.

Critical Acclaim

• Decanter 95 Points | Elegant and inviting, with layers of dark bitter chocolate, burnt orange and barley sugar leading on to a lush, rich palate of toffee, caramel and espresso.
• Wine Enthusiast 93 Points | A smooth nose deals typical P.X. aromas of chocolate, fig and raisin. Rich flavors of café mocha and chocolate finish long, sweet and satisfying.
• Wine Spectator 93 Points | Thick and oily in feel, with buckwheat honey, toasted sesame, prune and date flavors forming the core. A Christmas pudding note pervades the exotic finish.

Winemaker Description

Nectar is a young Pedro Ximénez showing rich aromas of fresh fruit — raisins and hints of honey, syrup and fruit preserve. On the palate it is velvety and smooth with good acidity that alleviates the sweetness. Perfect with desserts such as vanilla ice cream, dark chocolate and cheesecake.

Food Pairings

• Vanilla ice cream or affogato
• Dark chocolate and chocolate desserts
• Cheesecake, crème brülée, or sticky toffee pudding
• Blue cheese or aged Manchego

Product Details

• Producer: González Byass
• Style: Pedro Ximénez Dulce (Sweet Sherry)
• Appellation: Jerez-Xérès-Sherry, Andalucía, Spain
• Format: 375ml Half Bottle

Winemaker Description 

Tawny gold colour, this elegant and classic Amontillado is pungent and aromatic, with oaky notes. Nutty on the palate with a hint of sweetness and a lingering dry finish. Winemaker Description. 

Expert Review 

Wine Spectator 93 Points | This has lots of range, with ginger, date, toasted almond, blood orange, singed sandalwood and green tea notes all allied to finely beaded acidity, letting everything drape beautifully on the finish. Alluring on its own, but this really begs for some Cabrales. Drink now.Wine Advocate 91 points The NV Almacenista Jose Luis Gonzalez Obregon Oloroso del Puerto produced from Palomino grapes and aged in Puerto de Santa Maria by the sea, has a chestnut color with a green-amber edge, clean sweet notes of roasted nuts, cake and oranges, a medium- to full-bodied palate with a smoky character and great length.

Winemaker Description 

A pale and delicate light dry Sherry that is light in color. Commonly served cold as an aperitif, many consider this Spanish wine to be the world's finest Sherry. Finos are excellent when young. A delicate pale cocktail sherry noted for its fine, dry after taste. 

Winemaker Description 

Aged following an oxidative ageing for 12 years in Bodega La Campana in Jerez de la Frontera.

Dark bronze colour with golden rim. Pungent nutty aromas with a smoky wood background. Rich flavours of bitter chocolate, walnuts and baked chestnuts. This Oloroso wine has an intense, concentrated aftertaste, lightened by a tangy acidity.

Winemaker Description 

Luminous amber colours. The aromas are pungent, almondy and persistent. On the palate it is slightly sweet, refined and with hints of dry flavours from the ageing. In short, the characteristics of an exceptional amontillado.

Straw-yellow, bright and transparent . Pungent and delicate. Light and dry on the palate.

Producer Description 

Medium deep amber colour. Rather fruity nose of prune, fig with earl grey tea and candied orange. Rather sweet palate with a creamy texture, some nutty complexity, and rather long finish. 

Winemaker Description 

Tio Pepe Fino Sherry is a star bright, pale golden color. It is elegant and distinctive, with fresh bread and almond aromas. The palate is full bodied, crisp and very dry, with a complex, long finish.

Perfect with canapes and tapas, Asian food, seafood and all fish based dishes. Try it with caviar, oysters, anchovies or tuna carpaccio. Winemaker Description. 

Expert Review 

James Suckling 90 Points | This is the prototypical fino sherry with all the salty and yeasty character you expect. Also dried-apple, pear and lemon-zest character. Generous, but very dry and salty on the palate with a refreshing touch of austerity. Where are the olives? Drink now, if possible from a freshly opened bottle. 

Winemaker Description 

This extra fine cream sherry comes exclusively from select vineyards in the "Zona de Jerez Superior", the world's finest area for production of sherry. 

It is aged through the time honoured Savory & James solera system which was established in 1780. Finally it reaches full maturity; delicate and at the same time unusually rich and delicious.

Expert Review

Michael Schachner of The Wine Enthusiast 89 Points | A cloudy brown color along with nutty, slightly fiery aromas of caramel and cocoa open this aggressive oloroso with somewhat sharp acidity. A narrow flavor profile includes toffee, mushroom and orange peel, while saltiness drives a tannic finish.

Producer Description 

Varieties : 100% Palomino Fino. Vinification Method : This wine is sourced from a solera at bodegas Del Rio of Luis del Rio in Sanlúcar. Nick selected barrels on the warmer side of the bodega, giving the wine a fresher, more playful character.

Buelan Compañia de Sacas is a bottling project of barrel-selected sherries created by Nick Africano, musician and founder of En Rama Sherry Co.

Nick works with the wines of Ramiro Ibañez of Cota 45 and Willy Perez of Bodegas Luis Perez through his work with Spanish wine in New York City and with his experience working with José Pastor Selections. He was thrilled when he learned of Ramiro and Willy’s joint project, M. Ant. De La Riva, imported by José Pastor. After meeting Ramiro and Willy a few times in Spain, Nick immediately connected with their ethos, and knew he wanted to work with them in some capacity beyond selling their wine in NYC.

They are true modern masters, and will one day be legends of the category. For Nick, it felt like a dream come true to work with them for his first release: an idea Nick had to bottle a sherry to be co-released alongside a new song of the same name.

Buelan aims to bottle sherries that capture a depth of meaning and place, of metaphor and artistry, and, most importantly, they aim to capture the stories of the people who make the wines. Each bottling expresses a particular theme, be that a song, an idea, or just a certain style of sherry Nick wants to highlight. 

Expert Review 

Michael Schachner of The Wine Enthusiast writes 90 Points | A tan-gold color and oily aromas of almond and walnut open this surprisingly refined Fino. Flavors of butter, peanut and baked apple turn smokier and huskier as this sits, while nut flavors control an expansive finish.

Expert Reviews

Expert Review

Wine Spectator 88 Points | A pungent, dry and bracing fino, full of iodine, apple and walnut flavors. Light-bodied, with a clean, walnut aftertaste. Drink now. 1,000 cases imported.

Winemaker Description 

Vina AB is a young Amontillado which has experienced both ageing under flor and oxidative ageing. Due to the contact with oxygen it has taken on a light amber color. On the nose subtle and delicate with typical Palomino aromas of hazelnuts, and slight reminders of yeast due to its time under the flor. On the palate Vina AB shows subtle notes of oak due to the 12 years spent in cask. Pleasant with a balanced acidity. Long aftertaste with slight saltiness and bitterness on the finish. 

Winemaker Description 

The treasures of El Maestro Sierra are many. From the back of their building they have a clear view of the Atlantic Ocean.

In 1832 the master carpenter José Antonio Sierra founded El Maestro Sierra. As one of the top coopers in the area, José Antonio was the person who made the barrels for all of the big Sherry houses. After years of making barrels for everyone else, he came to the conclusion that he could produce Sherries that were better than what the big Sherry houses were cranking out, so he went about opening up his own little winery.

This little up-start Sherry producer was not welcomed in the world of nobility-owned Sherry houses and so the local gentry did everything they could to stop him. Fortunately the quality of his sherry prevailed over their efforts and José Antonio Sierra became one of the top Almacenistas (stockholders) of high-quality Sherries. Poking fun at his struggle, the label depicts an allegorical fox hunt with the nobles hunting El Maestro Sierra’s fox.

This Amontillado is aged for a total of 12 years under flor and oxidatively in American oak casks. Very explosive aromas of salts and almonds. The palate offers similar flavors in a very elegant framework.

Producer Description 

The Antique release of Fernando de Castilla Fino is heavier than the Classic. Rich and complex with notes of citrus fruit and a classic salty tang.

The company specializes in natural, unblended and unfined products as supreme examples of the ancient winemaking traditions of the Jerez region. The vineyards (farmed without pesticides or herbicides) and winery are all located in Jerez, all sherries are estate bottled. 

Expert Review

The Wine Enthusiast 88 Points | This dry version of Sicily's most famous fortified wine boasts lingering tones of pinecone, walnut and custard for a more austere and powerful style. This Marsala is deep brown in color and very spicy on the close.

Memo Summary Notes

Authentic fortified wine from Sicily! The Florio Vecchio Marsala Superiore Dry is one of the most respected examples of the style and is often considered the benchmark for true dry (Secco) Marsala.

Expert Review

Winemaker Description 

González Byass Alfonso Oloroso Seco is a wine made from Palomino Fino from their own vineyards.

As soon as the grapes arrive at the winery, they are softly pressed to obtain the free-run must (mosto yema), which will be used to make this wine. After fermentation, classification and fortification at 18% vol., the wine enters the "solera", where it will remain for an average of eight years in American oak butts, following the traditional "solera" system. The wine ages in full contact with the air, which allows its complete oxidation. 

Indulgent California Cream Sherry

Fairbanks Cream Sherry delivers a luxurious dessert wine experience in a generous 1.5-liter magnum format. Crafted in California, this sweet and slightly nutty sherry showcases exceptional balance and craftsmanship. Perfect for those who appreciate the rich, velvety character of fortified wines, Fairbanks offers an approachable yet sophisticated option for dessert pairings and after-dinner enjoyment.

Tasting Notes & Flavor Profile

This well-made cream sherry greets you with inviting aromas of toasted nuts, caramel, and dried fruits. On the palate, discover a harmonious blend of sweetness and subtle nuttiness, with notes of toffee, roasted almonds, and hints of vanilla. The smooth, silky texture leads to a pleasantly lingering finish that balances richness with refreshing acidity, making each sip a delightful experience.

Perfect Dessert & Food Pairings

Fairbanks Cream Sherry shines as a dessert wine companion. Pair it with classic pairings like crème brûlée, pecan pie, or bread pudding for an elevated experience. It also complements blue cheese, aged cheddar, or a charcuterie board featuring dried fruits and nuts. Serve it slightly chilled as an aperitif, or enjoy it alongside dark chocolate desserts, tiramisu, or fruit tarts for a memorable finish to any meal.

Magnum Size for Sharing & Celebrations

The 1.5-liter magnum format makes Fairbanks Cream Sherry ideal for entertaining, holiday gatherings, and special occasions. This larger bottle size ensures you have plenty to share with guests, whether you're hosting a dinner party, celebrating the holidays, or simply enjoying a relaxed evening with friends and family. The magnum also makes an impressive gift for sherry enthusiasts and dessert wine lovers.

Versatile Enjoyment

Beyond traditional dessert pairings, Fairbanks Cream Sherry offers versatile enjoyment options. Sip it neat as a digestif, pour it over vanilla ice cream for an instant affogato-style treat, or use it in cocktails and culinary applications. Its balanced sweetness and nutty complexity make it a pantry staple for both drinking and cooking, adding depth to sauces, glazes, and dessert recipes.

Winemaker Description 

The wine is showing light legs, an intense and powerful nose which reminds us of the veil of the flor, chalk, dried fruits as well as citric, salty and mineral notes.

On the palate, the wine is fresh, salty and tasty. The finish is persistent and balanced, reminding us of salt, hazelnuts, yeast and green olives, with a dry and slightly bitter aftertaste.

The Macharnudo and Carrascal pagos express the best of our soils in this intense, salty and flavour some Fino.The Solera, with over 6 years of biological ageing, is made up of a total of 139 casks, from which number 79, 95 and 96 were selected, all found on the second floor of the Gran Bodega Tio Pepe.

Memo Summary Notes

That's a very specific and excellent sherry! The Tio Pepe Una Palma Fino Saca 2021 is part of a special, limited-edition collection of Fino and Amontillado sherries from González Byass in Jerez.

Here is a summary of the details for this particular release:

🌟 Key Characteristics
* Type: Fino Sherry
* Producer: González Byass (Tío Pepe)
* Origin: D.O. Jerez-Xérès-Sherry, Spain
* Grape: 100% Palomino Fino
* Ageing: Approximately 6 years under a dense layer of flor (a veil of yeast) through the traditional Solera system.
* Saca (Bottling Release): 2021 (Bottled in October 2021)
* Style: "Una Palma" (One Palm) indicates it's the youngest and freshest in the "Las Palmas" series, but still an older and more intense Fino than the standard Tio Pepe. It is typically bottled "en rama" (unfiltered or lightly filtered) to retain maximum flavor and character.
* Bottle Size: 500ml (50cl)

* The Saca 2021 is celebrated for its concentration, intensity, and purity of the flor character:
    * Appearance: Pale yellow to bright golden color.
    * Nose: Intense and powerful, dominated by yeasty notes from the flor (like fresh  bread or brioche), combined with aromas of almonds/nuts, chalk/talc, seaweed/brine, and sometimes a hint of bruised or green apple.
    * Palate: Bone-dry, full-bodied, fresh, and intensely salty (saline) and savory. It offers flavors of green olives, hazelnuts, and a persistent, slightly bitter, yet balanced finish.
    * Overall: It is an intense, concentrated, and very dry sherry that beautifully captures the essence of prolonged biological aging.
* 🍽️ Pairing
This Fino is an ideal aperitif and pairs wonderfully with:
    * Traditional Spanish Tapas: Almonds, olives, Jamón Ibérico.
    * Seafood: Anchovies, sushi, sashimi, smoked fish.
    * Complex Dishes: Artichokes, asparagus, and Asian cuisine, which can be difficult to pair with other wines.

Producer Description 

The Maestro Sierra Oloroso, aged 15 years, is dark amber with flavors of walnuts, butterscotch and figs. Dry but with great intensity.

Expert Review

Michael Schachner of The Wine Enthusiast writes 88 Points | Mildly oxidized aromas of honeyed fruits and salt water are less alert than ideal, while this feels plump but without intense acidic cut. Toffee and caramel flavors include a note of white mushroom, while this golden Manzanilla feels dry and tastes a bit like fresh butter on the finish.

Winemaker Description 

Manzanilla La Jaca is the most famous wine from Bodegas Álvaro Domecq, together with the Fino La Janda. Last year all of the entry-level wines (not the ‘1730’ series) were given a modern, graphical label with abstract motifs and bold colours.

La Jaca is around four years old.

Winemaker Description 

Alvear Fino is straw in color. Clean and tangy with a refreshing finish and a softness which makes it delightfully easy to drink. Perfect as a chilled Aperitif, accompanied by Tapas of olives or shellfish. Serve Chilled. Treat as a white wine. 

Expert Review

The Wine Advocate 90 Points | The non-vintage Fino offers up aromas and flavors of sea salt and roasted nuts. It is excellent as an aperitif or as an accompaniment to sushi. 

Winemaker Description 

Aged for 15 years in Jerez de la Frontera. Since the foundation of its Solera by Mr. Emilio Lustau in 1921 to commemorate the visit to Jerez of Eugenia de Montijo, the last Empress of France.

Dark gold in colour with khaki hues. Penetrating aromas of noble woods, varnish and nuts with a great concentration. A rich and mellow wine, with immense flavours of smoky wood, prunes and bitter chocolate. Complex and ample on the palate, smooth and warming with a lingering aftertaste.

Expert Review

Tasting Notes

Fairbanks Cocktail Sherry is a medium dry, full-bodied California Sherry aged for a mellow, nutty flavor with a smooth, approachable finish. Versatile and well-priced, it's a classic American Sherry ideal for sipping as an aperitif or as a go-to cooking wine.

About the Wine

Produced in California — America's premier wine state — Fairbanks has long been a trusted name for everyday fortified wines. This 1.5L Magnum format offers exceptional value, making it a pantry staple for home cooks and entertainers alike.

Serve & Use

Serve chilled as an aperitif, or use as a cooking sherry in sauces, soups, and marinades. Also works beautifully in classic cocktails calling for a dry or medium sherry.

Product Details

• Style: Medium Dry Sherry (Fortified Wine)
• Origin: California, United States
• Format: 1.5L Magnum
• Producer: Fairbanks

Winemaker Description 

Expert Review

Wine Spectator 89 Points | There's a richness here offsetting the firm structure, but the iodine and roasted walnut notes shine on the finish. Caramel, burnt molasses and tobacco round out the flavor spectrum. Drink now. 1,750 cases made.

Winemaker Description 

Mahogany colour with iodine tinged edges. Strong and nutty, with hints of varnish, caramel and vanilla. Very dry, well-rounded structure, with faint hints of saline, a slightly bitter and long- lasting finish.

Producer Description 

This hazelnut colored, oxidized sherry showcases aromas of baking spices and dried candied fruits. It finishes dry with notes of fresh salt-roasted walnuts.

Cruz del Mar Oloroso is produced exclusively with palomino grapes grown by César’s family in the Balbaína and Miraflores pagos (vineyards). After harvesting, the grapes are crushed and undergo alcoholic fermentation in traditional cement vats, which naturally regulate the temperature.

Fuller-bodied musts are chosen for Oloroso, and after being fortified to 18% ABV., the wine is aged oxidatively in old barrels in a bodega in the heart of Chipiona. Cruz del Mar Oloroso spends an average of 12 years in the solera process before being bottled en rama, without fining or filtration.