Winner Details

Sherry

Sherry might have only picked up half the number of Golds that port did, but this was a pretty good year for the Spanish fortified.

We tend not to get the entries from Spain that we do from Portugal and there are years where our tasters have felt somewhat short-changed when they try to put together the sherry section of our list. This year, though, numbers were decent, and our judges found a nice balance of really good sherries in all the key styles for our Gold List.

Where sherry maybe does do better than port was in the pricing. These were stunningly cheap, and gave our tasters plenty to get excited about

From The Tasting Teams

‘All the samples were very good. Complex and good-quality. I didn’t find any that weren’t good.’ Luma Monteiro, Wineria

‘This [Valdespino Oloroso] was the star; it was amazing. It had the most terrific aroma, you didn’t even need to drink it – just put it to your nose. It’s a superbly intense wine, a real gold medal winner. It would be great with some blue cheese.’ Sarah Jane Evans MW, team leader

‘The sweet sherries were very nice. When you drink this kind of wine it automatically reminds you of dessert – perfect for the end of the meal. They are expensive but worth it.’ Michele Ciciriello, China Tang at The Dorchester

‘A really good dry amontillado is a top choice for restaurants. It’s great to serve with meat and soups and cheese. I’d love to see more food matches for that.’ Sarah Jane Evans MW, team leader

Award winners

Found 14 wines

Sherry

La Ina, Fino NV, Jerez, Spain

Gold medal winner

'A nutty and smoky wine, with great intensity.'
Harry Ballmann, Folie.

'Notes of yellow apple, lemon peel, bread dough, sea salt and chamomile.'
Romain de Courcy, The Ritz Paris.

'There's no oxidation here, with plenty of almond and green apple notes. A delicate wine that would be excellent by the glass and with tapas.'
Sarah Jane Evans MW, team leader.

£10.25 Size: 75cl Bibendum

Alvear, Solera 1927, Pedro Ximenez NV, Andalucía, Spain

Gold medal winner

'Deliciously rich dried fruit, with a luxurious mouthfeel and a long finish with fig notes.'
Gary Newborough, The Aristologist.

'Toffee on the both the nose and palate, with additional caramel, honey, molasses, prunes and raisins. Luscious and syrupy, with good length.'
Luma Monteiro, Wineria.

'Bright and spicy, with fig and nutmeg notes, and just a touch of treacle.'
Dave Cushley, Prestonfield House.

£13.32 Size: 37.5cl Bibendum

Valdespino, Solera 1842, VOS, Medium Sweet, Very Old Oloroso Blend NV, Jerez, Spain

Gold medal winner

'Toffee and coffee notes, as well as some medicinal spice on the finish, along with creamy walnut and some nice freshness.'
Tom Forrest, team leader.

'This is a great example, with some sweetness that is counter-balanced by great acidity, all following a pronounced nose of nuts and dried fruits, with some citrus peel too.'
Jurijs Nemkovs, StreetXO.

£28.80 Size: 75cl Liberty Wines

Bodegas Yuste, Aurora, Amontillado NV, Sanluúcar de Barrameda, Spain

Gold medal winner

'Walnuts and pungent spices with a savoury edge on the nose, as well as some salinity on the palate.'
Luma Monteiro, Wineria.

'Very nutty and savoury on both the nose and the palate, with amontillado aromas and a rich body. This is a great example of a rare and complex style of palo cortado, with a long, lingering finish.'
Jurijs Nemkovs, StreetXO.

£13.39 Top Selection

Bodegas El Monte, PX San Ramón 1992 NV, Andalucía, Spain

Silver medal winner

'Amazingly light, yet with full-on raisins, and a smooth, nutty flavour.'
Dave Cushley, Prestonfield House.

'Date, dried apricot and dried figs, alongside dark chocolate, glazed walnut and orange zest notes.'
Romain de Courcy, The Ritz Paris.

'Cooked banana, treacle and creamy raisin notes, with cleansing acidity.'
Tom Forrest, team leader.

£20.68 Size: 75cl Bodegas EL MONTE

Tabanco, Dry Amontillado NV, Jerez, Spain

Silver medal winner

'A spicy and peppery wine with a punch of freshness, alongside walnuts and caramel, with a long finish.'
Sarah Jane Evans MW, team leader.

'Gentle on the palate, with orange peel coming through with a touch of honey.'
Michele Ciciriello, China Tang at The Dorchester.

'Very well made, with some walnut notes on the nose and palate.'
Jurijs Nemkovs, StreetXO.

£13.38 Size: 75cl Bibendum

Lustau, Rio Viejo, Dry Oloroso NV, Jerez, Spain

Silver medal winner

'Very complex and extremely pleasant, with dried fruit and orange peel notes.'
Jurijs Nemkovs, StreetXO.

'Bright acidity and tasty dried fruit, along with some dried vanilla.'
Tim Smith, Winesurfer Consulting.

'Glorious orange, caramel and spice notes, and a palate that's peppery and intense. This would be fab with cheese.'
Sarah Jane Evans MW, team leader.

£12.17 Size: 75cl Bibendum

Jose Estevez, La Guita, Manzanilla NV, Jerez, Spain

Silver medal winner

'Light and nutty on the nose, with some yeasty character leading to delicious savoury notes on the smooth and mouth-watering palate.'
Jurijs Nemkovs, StreetXO.

'Dried flowers and bready notes, along with some almond nuttiness, fresh apple and a lemon finish.'
Tom Forrest, team leader.

£9.94 Size: 75cl Bibendum

Bodegas El Monte, Fino Cebolla NV, Andalucía, Spain

Bronze medal winner

'This has a pithy texture, with caramel notes in the back.'
Dave Cushley, Prestonfield House.

'Golden apple and ripe lemon notes, together with chamomile, almond and straw notes, as well as salted bread dough.'
Romain de Courcy, The Ritz Paris.

'A little bit funky, very appealing on the palate, with some farmyard notes.'
Jurijs Nemkovs, StreetXO.

£14.15 Size: 75cl Bodegas EL MONTE

Valdespino, Tío Diego, Amontillado NV, Jerez, Spain

Bronze medal winner

'A very delicate wine showing both age and elegance, with honey and caramel notes and some bitterness too.'
Sarah Jane Evans MW, team leader.

'Walnuts and honey on the nose, with a hint of sweet spices and orange peel, and a palate that's well-balanced, and with very good length.'
Luma Monteiro, Wineria.

£15.65 Size: 75cl Liberty Wines

Bodegas Hidalgo La Gitana, Pastrana, Manzanilla Pasada NV, Jerez, Spain

Commended medal winner

£9.36 Size: 75cl Mentzendorff & Co

Jose Estevez, La Guita, En Rama Manzanilla NV, Jerez, Spain

Commended medal winner

£7.81 Size: 37.5cl Bibendum

Valdespino, Inocente, Fino NV, Jerez, Spain

Commended medal winner

£13.95 Size: 75cl Liberty Wines

Bodegas Yuste, Aurora, Oloroso NV, Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Spain

Commended medal winner

£13.39 Size: 50cl Top Selection