Palo Cortado VORS Baco Imperial 19.5%, Bodegas Dios Baco

Appearance

Attractive transparent amber-topaz with coppery old gold reflections, legs.

Nose

Full, crisp, fragrant, open and complex. Pronounced Amontillado - almost crianza biologica - notes with a gentle bitterness and lots of toasted almond and hazelnut, a trace of marzipan-like sweetness balances with a phenolic note of oak. This is an old wine and gracefully integrated by age.

Palate

Tight and elegant at first, apparently quite light, then it opens out a bit revealing slightly fuller, more generous and textured Oloroso nutty notes with traces of cinnamon, wood and candied orange peel. There is a certain (volatile) acidity and a very acceptable level of tannin for a wine of this age, and there is a gentle grip but it helps give the wine its terrific length.

Comments

This is an excellent old wine from the Baco Imperial range which covers the bodega's oldest wines. Palos Cortados are so interesting; they swing between Amontillado and Oloroso, and the differences are incredibly subtle but I would say this is closer to Amontillado. It is a very elegant wine with all the nuances which can only be acquired by long ageing.

Price
About 55 euros ex bodega