3.10.13 Unique GB Anada; Wines from Spain Awards; Tio Pepe Sherrymaster

Gonzalez Byass have produced a bottle of very special Añada wine to commemorate the centenary of Cambridge University’s English Language Assessment Department. It will be presented during a ceremony at the bodega tomorrow.

The Oloroso, presented in a replica of the bottles used in the mid XIX century, is actually a blend of 11 of the most outstanding vintages from each decade of the century 1913-2013. The bottle has a driven cork and a vintage label and is sealed with red wax, numbered and signed on the back label by the president of GB, Mauricio Gonzalez Gordon.

Tasting notes are: Intense, complex and forthcoming on the nose with pronounced notes of hazelnuts and almonds in caramel and hints of polished furniture, cedar wood, slightly saline hints and a trace of the austerity that only age can confer. On the palate it is full, powerful, dry, dense and concentrated with tremendous balance between acidity and bitterness. It bursts onto the palate and lingers forever, the cleanest and purest definition of this kind of wine.

 Wines From Spain (ICEX), the Spanish Government body for promotion of Spanish wines in the UK, has announced its Awards for 2013, and needless to say Sherry has won a few. 700 wines were tasted and 107 selected for honourable mention. 

The Award winners were:

Fernando de castilla Antique Oloroso: Best Dry Fortified

Fernando de Castilla Antique PX: Best Sweet Fortified

Waitrose Solera Jerezana Palo Cortado (Lustau): Best Value Dry Fortified

Antonio Flores

Gonzalez Byass have recently concluded the first “Tio Pepe Sherrymaster” symposium. They plan to run the event every year, and it consists of two days of total immersion in the world of Sherry. Led by GB chief blender Antonio Flores, the event was assisted by internationally recognised speakers such as Josep (Pitu) Roca (sommelier at Can Roca Restaunt) and Sarah Jane Evans MW. It was attended by specialist journalists, sommeliers, gourmets and the like.

The first day focused on “History, the Vineyard and Biological Ageing”, with vineyard visits, a study of the climate and a look through GB archives followed by a tasting led by Antonio Flores.

The second day was entitled “The Selection and the Winery”. Much emphasis was put on selection and classification of the wines, and Sarah Jane Evans gave a talk on “Yeast versus Oxygen”. The closing tasting was “Sweet Farewell”, a look at Palomino, Moscatel and PX wines.

A splendid time was had by all! For more info: www.sherrymaster.com