Intro to Barbadillo Amontillado Sherry – Barbadillo Amontillado Sherry is a delightful light amber colour. The smooth aromas tell of ageing in wood and reveal a touch of cinnamon; these same characteristics appear on the palate. Smooth and honest in the mouth with a pleasant persistence. Full tasting note and wine making – Barbadillo Amontillado Sherry – these sherry wines began their life as Manzanillas and then the flor was allowed to die away so they continued their maturation with exposure to the air in the barrel. Therefore the wine has a deep topaz colour with roasted almond character yet retains the characteristic tangy flavour of Manzanilla. This wine has been slightly sweetened with Pedro Ximenez to give it a raisined edge. This is a blended wine, carefully made from a combination of wines that have been subject to biological and oxidative ageing. After the harvest, the fermented Palomino wine is aged in oak. Biological ageing takes place under a film of flor yeast during a phase known as sobretablas. Oxidative ageing is a result of the action of oxygen inside old American oak sherry cask and the traditional, yet dynamic system of criaderas and soleras. Oxidative ageing is the predominant process in the production of this wine and consequently defines its character. The producer – The Barbadillo family are one of the key players in the Sherry trade. From their base in the coastal city of Sanlucar de Barrameda, at the very southwest tip of Spain, the family have forged a reputation as one of the biggest and best Sherry producers. Never ones to rest on their laurels, the Barbadillo family continue to push the boundaries and set the trend in what is an increasingly challenging Sherry market. Barbadillo was founded by Don Beningo and Don Manuel Barbadillo in 1821. It was Don Beningo’s fortune, acquired through his business enterprises in Mexico, that allowed the family to purchase their first Bodega, the ‘Bodega del Toro’, near the ‘Castillo de San Diego’, in the heart of Sanlucar’s old high town. A vitally important location for maturing Sherry, the high town occupies the ridge of a hill overlooking the rest of Sanlucar, and the Atlantic Ocean. Its height gives unbeatable access to winds that blow in from the sea. This allows the Bodegas with their high ceilings and classic huge circular windows to regulate their temperature and capture moisture essential for propagating ‘flor’, a layer of yeast cells that float on the surface of the wine inside the casks. It is ‘flor’ that gives Manzanilla its character and instantly recognisable saline flavour. Drink with – With its tantalizing colour of burnished gold and nutty aroma, this wine is perfect for drinking with appetizers such as Iberian ham, nuts and mature cheeses. Its unique flavour is a great match for fresh fruit salads and melon served with ham. If you prefer a traditional yet surprising combination with food from the south of Spain, try it alongside local fish such as dogfish and hake slowly cooked with saffron, bay leaves and peas. Also great with clams and popular with hot soups. At the end of the meal, it is remarkably good with fruits such as orange, peach and mandarin. In order to best appreciate this wine´s special qualities, it should be served at an ambient temperature of between 15º to 18º and always in a wine glass; this applies if drunk as an aperitif or if served with a meal.
