Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, deep amber, legs
Nose: clean, med+ intensity, fully developed, cola, fig, nuts, spice, browned butter
Mouth: sweet, full-bodied, med fortification, med- acid, med intensity, cola, fig, hint nuts, sweet spice, med length, brown sugar, molasses
All in all: (Acceptable to) Good quality: though there is some intense character, there isn’t enough complexity or acid to balance out the sweetness, nor is there much character on the finish. Drink now, not suitable for ageing.

[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 2 – Week 7]

You know the type. Like the faux-sepia pictures of two Converse-clad feet facing each other, with one pair tiptoeing for what is obviously a kiss, and there’s a shitty “Love is patient”-esque quote on the front.… read more

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, med+ amber, legs
Nose: clean, med+ intensity, fully developed, grilled almonds, burnt almonds, sweet spice, caramel, mineral, baked dough, pastry
Mouth: dry, full-bodied, high fortification, med acid, pronounced intensity, grilled nuts, dough, pastry, fleshiness, minerality, long finish, almond, brown sugar, salted caramel
All in all: Outstanding quality: this Oloroso sherry has a pronounced savoury complexity that reigns over the palate with a nutty sceptre. The wine also isn’t without awesome concentration and length. Drink now, not suitable for ageing.

[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 2 – Week 7]

I don’t know why some nutty sherries seem to evoke nostalgia to me. Perhaps its the intentionally oxidized and hence “aged” sort of character, or perhaps its the fact that these types of wines are the stereotypical grandma-standard of beverages.… read more

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, med+ gold, legs
Nose: clean, med+ intensity, fully developed, grilled almond, burnt almond, nut dust, brine, earth, mineral, yeast, dough, spice, brandy, hint of caramel, olive
Mouth: dry, med+ body, med acid, medium fortification, pronounced flavour intensity, brine, grilled almond, burnt almond, dough, salted almond, long length, savoury
All in all: Very good quality: This Amontillado is exuberant and concentrated with poised balance and a lasting finish. The aromas and flavours have a moderately complex focussed thread. Drink now; not suitable for ageing.

[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 2 – Week 7]

Dear lord. This was the one I had to read out my notes for. Thankfully, you can almost always get away with reporting some form of “nuts” with sherry – then you have to work your way from there.… read more

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, pale lemon, legs
Nose: clean, med- intensity, developing, aldehyde, brine, blanched almonds, green apple, hint fruit
Mouth: medium-dry, med body, med acid, med fortification, med- flavour intensity, aldehyde, slight nuttiness, blanched almonds, med- length, apple, honey
All in all: (Acceptable to) Good quality: there isn’t enough intensity of flavour to balance out the sweetness nor is there much character on the finish, but the wine has some level of concentration despite the low fortification. Drink now, not suitable for ageing.

[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 2 – Week 7]

Nothing against 40-year-olds trying to feel young. But this has a bit of that simple dry blanched almond nuttiness attempting to round itself out and add drinkability factor with sweetness from what I’d guess is sweet Pedro Ximénez wine.… read more

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, med gold, legs
Nose: clean, med intensity, developing, blanched almonds, yeast, hint citrus, hint green apple, yogurt, brine, savoury, mushroom
Mouth: dry, med- body, med acid, low level of fortification, med intensity, salted almond, yeast, yogurt, med+ finish, savoury
All in all: Very good quality: the pungent aldehydic character is balanced, concentrated, and refreshing. The moderate complexity and hints to green fruit persist on the finish. Drink now, not suitable for ageing.

[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 2 – Week 7]

Manzanilla is an interesting subsection of Fino sherry, where wines are aged on the coast at Sanlúcar de Barrameda, where higher humidity yet a cooler maritime weather encourages thicker flor growth. This results in even more pungent fresh and briny aldehydic flavours than your typical Fino.… read more

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, med+ amber, legs
Nose: clean, med+ intensity, fully developed, nuts, caramel, brown sugar, peanut butter, hint brine, yeast, almonds, earth, hint prune
Mouth: off-dry, full-bodied, med acid, high fortification, pronounced intensity, grilled almonds, roasted almonds, salted almonds, med length, dried citrus, toffee, caramel, hint peanut butter, briny, fleshy, long length
All in all: Outstanding quality: this Palo Cortado-style sherry has wonderful concentration and intensity; the balance is also great considering the bit of sweetness and viscosity; and the complexity sings with main cornerstones of salted almonds, roasted almonds, and a bit of peanut butter. Drink now, not suitable for ageing.

[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 2 – Week 7]

That’s right. I’m pairing Katy Perry with sherry, out of all things.… read more

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, pale lemon, legs
Nose: clean, med+ intensity, developing, white almonds, brine, citrus, hint pear, mineral
Mouth: dry, med body, med- acid, light fortification, med+ flavour intensity, salty, brine, white almonds, citrus, pear, hint butter, med length
All in all: Good quality: The wine’s simple fino flavours are intense and concentrated, wrapped up by a fresh and balanced structure, but isn’t too persistent. Drink now: not suitable for ageing.
Identity Guess: Mid-priced Fino Sherry from Spain.
Is really: Mid-priced Fino Sherry from Spain.

[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 2 – Week 2]

The Palomino grape is a bit of a boring jerk in its grape form, but it’s able to blossom into several types of sherries. … read more

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, pale gold, legs
Nose: clean, med intensity, developed, brine, almonds, hint dried citrus peel, hint meaty, citrus, hint vinegar
Mouth: dry, med+ body, med acid, low fortification, med+ flavour intensity, hint brine, almonds, cashews, hint meatiness, fleshy finish, med+ length
All in all: Apparently, a flawed bottle despite my original guess of very good quality. I obviously need to drink more sherry.
Identity Guess: Mid-priced Amontillado from Spain.
Is really: High-priced Manzanilla (En Rama) from Spain.

[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 2 – Week 2]

Flawed bottle, unfortunately (oxidized?). I definitely need to drink sherry more, because I hilariously thought that the wine was better than it was (which was flawed). I will shamelessly praise myself for guessing Amontillado, which apparently this wine seemed like.… read more