We aim to have all wines be vintage specific. In the case the listed vintage is out of stock and you note you would like that particular vintage, we will inform you via email for approval to go ahead.
World Wine – The soft texture of this Amontillado, along with a subtle sweetness, converts it into an approachable wine, seemingly easy to understand. With air, the complexity of its flavors appears, bringing in notes of green olives and salted nuts that contrast the caramelized finish. Not at all tiring, on the contrary, this invites another sip. For smoked trout. 92 Points, Patricio Tapia, Wine & Spirits, June 1, 2011
About This Wine
As the name suggests this is seriously old Amontillado. Like all of Toro Albala's wines it is made from 100% Pedro grapes. The average age of the wine when bottled is 30 -35 years old (with a minimum age of 25 years old). It's a dry wine, yet remarkably, at 21% ABV., the wine has not been fortified: the ripeness of the fruit's sugars at picking coupled with the length of ageing accounts for all the natural alcohol in the wine. This is legendary stuff amongst the Bibendum Sherry clique, not least for the fact that it's such a great pound-for-pound value. While it's the younger Fino and Manzanilla wines that are leading the line, as Sherry continues its slow retreat out of the drawing room and onto the restaurant table and wine bar counter, it's wines of this ilk that are providing the quality back up. Smooth, smoky, and deeply complex, it's a fittingly contemplative example of the style.
Type | Dessert, Sherry & Port |
---|---|
Varietal(s) | Pedro Ximenez |
Country | Spain |
Region | Montilla Moriles |
Brand | Toro Albala |
Vintage | NV |
Wines of Spain
With 2.9 million acres of land planted in wine grapes, Spain is the most widely planted wine producing nation and second largest producer in the world. Many styles of wine are produced in the country most of which are based on native grape varietals.
The two most famous regions are Rioja and Ribera del Duero for their Tempranillo production. Rioja Tempranillo (the classic) will be lighter and fresher with red fruit flavours as compared to those from Ribera del Duero that are often deep purple, higher in alcohol with more tannins and intense black fruit character. Rioja is also known for producing Garnacha (Grenache), as well as rich, nutty whites from the indigenous Viura varietal.
In the Catalonia region, Spain is recognized for making a sparkling wine in the traditional method but using native grape varieties. This is called Cava. Priorat, a subregion within Catalonia specializes in making still red blends of Garnacha, Carignan and often Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon in a bold and full-bodied style. Together with Rioja, wines from Priorat have achieved DOCa/DOQ status signifying their quality.
Sherry is Spain’s famous fortified wine which can either be completely dry, lusciously sweet or somewhere in between. This is made in the southern region of Jerez.
Other notable Spanish wine styles include: Monastrell (AKA. Mataro/Mourvèdre), produced in the Jumilla region and refreshing white Albariño and Verdejo from north western Galacia.