Jay Miller
Jay Miller
As everyone knows Sherry lovers are busy, interesting people who are much in demand which explains why finding a date for this dinner was almost impossible and once I did half the original attendees had to beg off. But I corralled some replacements and at long last after nearly 2 1/2 years we reconvened.
It was a delightful dinner with a number of wonderful sherries, excellent food and charming company. I took very sparse notes and probably missed something.
Gonzalez Byass Fino Finite Collection 2010 & 2011
Fino Anadas are very difficult to make since the flor must remain intact without the ability to top up the barrels. Byass came out with a pair of them.
The 2010 had a gorgeous amazing nose, light, elegant and complex. It developed beautifully with air with smooth almonds coming to the fore. A
The 2011 had a much more reticent nose and was more savory on the palate. Enjoyable with some complexity though not as much as the 2010. Good but outclassed by almost everything else on the table. B
Equipo Navazos La Bota 91 Fino Macharnudo
Enchanting wine, soft and cloud like texture. A
Gonzales Byas Palmas
Una - lovely A-
Dos - best example of the Dos I've had. My 2 previous experiences were a bit bland but this is very nice A-
Tres - a slow increase in intensity so far but this loses none of it's balance. A-
Cuatro - big Sherry, a bludgeon rather than a rapier. A touch heavy, this has always been my least favorite of the lineup in the past and no change tonight. C+
Lustau Almacenista Palo Cortado Cayetano del Pino Y Cio
Beautiful, crystalline, very complex. I like this a lot. A-
Pedro Romero Prestige 50 VORS Oloroso Viejisimo
Gorgeous layered wine showing gingerbread on the nose. I've wondered whether the richer styles of Sherry could pair well with steak and this answered the question with a resounding YES! A/A+
Mas Peyre "Le Demon de Midi" Rancio Sec
Not a Sherry but a delightful, bright and graceful solera wine made from Macabeo. As I'm sure you all already knew. A-
It was a delightful dinner with a number of wonderful sherries, excellent food and charming company. I took very sparse notes and probably missed something.
Gonzalez Byass Fino Finite Collection 2010 & 2011
Fino Anadas are very difficult to make since the flor must remain intact without the ability to top up the barrels. Byass came out with a pair of them.
The 2010 had a gorgeous amazing nose, light, elegant and complex. It developed beautifully with air with smooth almonds coming to the fore. A
The 2011 had a much more reticent nose and was more savory on the palate. Enjoyable with some complexity though not as much as the 2010. Good but outclassed by almost everything else on the table. B
Equipo Navazos La Bota 91 Fino Macharnudo
Enchanting wine, soft and cloud like texture. A
Gonzales Byas Palmas
Una - lovely A-
Dos - best example of the Dos I've had. My 2 previous experiences were a bit bland but this is very nice A-
Tres - a slow increase in intensity so far but this loses none of it's balance. A-
Cuatro - big Sherry, a bludgeon rather than a rapier. A touch heavy, this has always been my least favorite of the lineup in the past and no change tonight. C+
Lustau Almacenista Palo Cortado Cayetano del Pino Y Cio
Beautiful, crystalline, very complex. I like this a lot. A-
Pedro Romero Prestige 50 VORS Oloroso Viejisimo
Gorgeous layered wine showing gingerbread on the nose. I've wondered whether the richer styles of Sherry could pair well with steak and this answered the question with a resounding YES! A/A+
Mas Peyre "Le Demon de Midi" Rancio Sec
Not a Sherry but a delightful, bright and graceful solera wine made from Macabeo. As I'm sure you all already knew. A-