Intro to Barbadillo Oloroso Sherry – Barbadillo Oloroso Sherry is a deep mahogany colour with an aroma and flavour of raisins, nuts and a light oaky overtone and a mouthfilling rich palate. Full tasting note and wine making – Olorosos are Sherries that have aged in the absence of flor and are rich and full. As the name indicates it is a highly aromatic wine with toffee notes. This Oloroso is very slightly sweetened to leave a smooth satisfying finish in the mouth. Once fermentation has finished the best robust wines are selected and fortified with wine based distilled spirit to 18%. This wine known as sobretables is then aged for five years in Jerez botas or barrels the oxidative aging process is carried out in the traditional criadera tiered system. 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 – This rich Oloroso sherry is great with cheeses, some spiced desserts and on its own as an aperitif if lightly chilled.
