No other wine has the infinity of aromatic nuances that Sherry has. From hints of salinity, yeast, camomile and green almonds in the Finos, to roasted hazelnuts and aldehydes in Amontillados and Olorosos, to raisins, figs and coffee in the Pedro Ximenez, these aromas last and last, offering an incredible and unbeatable complexity.
All these - and many more - are to be found naturally in the wines anyway, and then there are the extra layers of extended ageing and blending which add further complexity. With such an enormous range of flavours and aromas, the Sherry wines inevitably marry well with just about any type of food. Imagine the pleasure, for example, of enjoying freshly cooked fish in a Spanish Chiringuito (beach restaurant) with a perfectly chilled Fino or Manzanilla. Or a fine old Oloroso accompanying an equally fine old Manchego cheese. Heaven!
Of course Sherry also makes the perfect aperitif. All you need to achieve aperitif perfection is a glass of chilled Fino or Manzanilla and some lightly salted toasted almonds, and/or some thinly sliced Chorizo, Salchichon, Lomo or that most heavenly of meats, Jamon Iberico (well cured ham from Iberico pigs).
It refreshes you in summer, stimulates the appetite and revives you in winter, and all at a more than reasonable price. Sherry, it would seem therefore, is essential to the enjoyment of life's pleasures, and indeed IS one of life's pleasures.
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