25.5.17 Decanter World Wine Awards 2017 Sherry Results

The results are out for the XIV edition of this prestigious competition which is now the world’s largest. This year saw over 17,200 wines entered which were judged by 219 experts including 65 Masters of Wine and 20 Master Sommeliers. All Silver medal-winning Sherries (31) scored 90 points or over, while Gold (14), Platinum (4) and Platinum Best in Show (2) winners scored 95 or over. 49 Sherries scored 90 points or more, while a further 25 Bronze-winners scored 86 points or more. It is very rewarding to see so many Sherries being recognised for their quality.

PLATINUM BEST IN SHOW

Manzanilla Pasada Pastora, Barbadillo

Fino Tres Palmas, González Byass

PLATINUM

Pedro Ximénez VOS, Lustau

Oloroso VORS, Lustau                                                                                            

Palo Cortado Viejísimo 1/5, Cayetano del Pino

Oloroso Pedro’s Almacenista Selection, Viniberia

GOLD

Harveys Fino, Fundador

Harveys Oloroso Medium VORS, Fundador

Harveys Amontillado VORS, Fundador

Amontillado VORS, Lustau

Amontillado Almacenista González Obregón, Lustau

Fino Almacenista González Obregón, Lustau

Oloroso The Best, Lustau (for Morrisons)

Fino del Puerto, Lustau (for Waitrose)

Palo Cortado VORS, Lustau

Amontillado Cuatro Palmas, González Byass

Amontillado del Duque VORS, González Byass

Pedro Ximénez Néctar, González Byass

Pedro Ximénez Noé VORS, González Byass

Fino Una Palma, González Byass

15.6.16 Sherry and Cork; MW Exam Sherry, Decanter Awards

On Monday a meeting took place at the Consejo’s Bodega San Ginés between the Jerez cork stopper producer Torrent Miranda, APOM (the association of sustainable forest owners) and representatives of the leading bodegas. Titled “Sustainability and Excellence in the Wines of Jerez”, the meeting was organised by the PEFC (the Spanish association for forest sustainability which certifies cork – as well as wood for barrels and wood derivatives), the Consejo and Torrent Miranda.

The latter’s managing director, Alfonso de la Calle pointed out that 71% of seals are cork because it is the best seal, not only for its suitability for the job, but for its ecological and environmental value, and that certified cork is much in demand for premium products. Ana Belén Noriega, PEFC general director praised the efforts of Andalusian producers who have 64,600 hectares of sustainable forest, 35,000 of those in Cádiz. Referring to its ecological value, she said that the production of one cork absorbed 234 grams of CO2 and that the bodegas should choose PEFC certified cork as a part of their drive for sustainability, especially locally produced cork.

The Institute of Masters of Wine examinations took place recently, and the chosen Sherry in the tasting papers, which consist of 36 wines over 3 papers was Cayetano del Pino’s Palo Cortado Solera. This is an excellent Sherry and a classic Palo Cortado, so let's hope they got it right!

Respected wine magazine Decanter has published the results of its Decanter World Wine Awards. Listed below are the top scoring Sherries. I have stuck to Best in Show, Platinum and Gold awards because of the number of wines involved. A total of 98 Sherries won Commended, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum and best in Show. A huge panel of judges included Masters of Wine and Master Sommeliers.

Best in Show

Fino Tres Palmas, González Byass

Platinum

Oloroso VORS, Lustau

Palo Cortado VORS, Lustau

Pedro Ximénez VORS, Lustau

Gold

Oloroso Añada 1986 Hidalgo La Gitana

Faraón Oloroso VORS, Hidalgo la Gitana

Pedro Ximénez Triana VORS, Hidalgo La Gitana

Wellington Palo Cortado VORS, Hidalgo La Gitana

Manzanilla Pasada Pastrana, Hidalgo La Gitana

Amontillado Cuatro Palmas, González Byass

Amontillado del Duque VORS, González Byass

Fino Dos Palmas, González Byass

Leonor Palo Cortado, González Byass

Matúsalem Cream VORS, González Byass

Noé Pedro Ximénez, González Byass

Palo Cortado Añada 1987, González Byass

Fino Inocente, Valdespino

15.6.15 Decanter World Wine Awards 2015

15,929 wines from all over the world were tasted by 240 of the world’s best palates including 85 Masters of Wine (MW) and 23 Master Sommeliers. Spain fared very well, with Sarah Jane Evans MW saying “Spain is the most exciting thing happening in European wine right now”. Couldn't agree more! The results for Sherry are as follows:

International Trophy

Cuatro Palmas, González Byass

Taste the Difference 12 yo PX, Williams & Humbert (for Sainsburys)

Regional Trophy

PX Triana VORS, Hidalgo La Gitana

Gold

Fino Una Palma, González Byass

Palo Cortado Wellington VORS, Hidalgo La Gitana

Manzanilla Pastrana, Hidalgo La Gitana

Oloroso VORS, Lustau

Amontillado VORS, Lustau

Palo Cortado VORS, Lustau

Signature Oloroso, Lustau (for Morrisons)

Palo Cortado Capuchino VORS, Osborne

Dos Cortados VOS, Williams & Humbert

Silver

East India Solera, Lustau

Amontillado Botaina, Lustau

Palo Cortado 1/5, Cayetano del Pino

Palo Cortado Solera, Cayetano del Pino

Palo Cortado Antique, Fernando de Castilla

Amontillado del Duque VORS, González Byass

Oloroso Matúsalem VORS, González Byass

Fino Tres Palmas, González Byass

Fino Dos Palmas, González Byass

Amontillado VORS, Harveys

Oloroso VORS, Harveys

Palo Cortado VORS, Harveys

PX VORS, Harveys

Fino Extra Dry, Harveys

Signature 12yo Cream, Harveys

Manzanilla En Rama La Gitana, Hidalgo La Gitana

Manzanilla La Gitana, Hidalgo La Gitana

Oloroso Faraón VORS, Hidalgo La Gitana

Fino La Ina, Lustau

Very Rare Oloroso, Lustau (for Marks &Spencer)

Oloroso Rio Viejo, Lustau

Amontillado Solera Jerezana, Lustau (for Waitrose)

Palo Cortado Solera Jerezana, Lustau (for Waitrose)

Fino del Puerto Almacenista, Lustau

Amontillado Almacenista Cuevas, Lustau

Oloroso Pata de Gallina Almacenista, Lustau

Moscatel Emilín, Lustau

Oloroso Emperatriz Eugenia, Lustau

Amontillado Los Arcos, Lustau

Fino, Lustau (for Morrisons)

Palo Cortado Península, Lustau

Puerto Fino, Lustau

PX San Emilio, Lustau

Cream Solera Superior, Lustau

Oloroso Sibarita VORS, Osborne

PX Venerable VORS, Osborne

Palo Cortado Pedro’s Almacenista Selection (Viniberia for Majestic)

Manzanilla Extra Dry Light, Williams & Humbert (for Marks & Spencer)

I have excluded Bronze medals and Commendations for brevity. As usual it is interesting to see what won what. I was surprised, forjust one example, that a supermarket Fino won the same silver medal as an Almacenista Oloroso and various VORS wines. But hey, that's wine competitions for you!

27.6.14 UK Journalists in Jerez; Sherry Wins Gold

Two journalists from two British newspapers, the Financial Times and the Observer are coming to Jerez next week to report on the local tourism, culture and wine. The provincial tourist office will be providing informational support to them. Interestingly, they will be travelling by Harley Davidson motorcycles, on which they have already toured round western Andalucia’s best tourism areas.

A Harley in action (Pic: Vozdigital)

The Decanter World Wine Awards results have been announced, and needless to say Sherry has done well. Eleven gold medals were awarded as follows:

Bodegas Hidalgo La Gitana: PX Triana VORS; Faraon Oloroso VORS; Wellington Palo Cortado

Bodegas Gonzalez Byass: Matusalem Oloroso Dulce VORS; Amontillado del Duque VORS

Bodegas Osborne: Amontillado 51-1a VORS; Oloroso Sibarita VORS; PX Venerable VORS

Bodegas Lustau: Palo Cortado VORS; Oloroso VORS; PX VORS

Also The International Wine & Spirit Competition results are out and Sherry has done exceptionally well. There was a raft of Silver medals, and Golds were awarded to the following:

Bodegas Gonzalez Byass: Nectar PX; Amontillado Del Duque; Noe PX; Apostoles  

Williams & Humbert: Amontillado Colección 12 Years Old; Marks & Spencer Manzanilla;  Palo Cortado VOS Solera Especial

Lustau: Morrisons Fino; Almacenista Manzanilla Pasada Cuevas Jurado; Palo Cortado VORS; Sainsburys Taste The Difference Oloroso 12 Years Old;   

Osborne: Sibarita Oloroso VORS; Venerable PX VORS; PX Solera 1827  

Harveys:  Palo Cortado VORS; Rich Old Oloroso VORS     

 

           

5.9.13 Parker's New Man in Spain; Decanter World Wine Awards; UCA Students to make Wine

Robert Parker’s new man in Spain is Luis Gutierrez, co-founder of El Mundo Vino. He wrote the article on Jerez and Montilla in the latest issue of the Wine Advocate, the first in the magazine’s history. He also tasted and awarded points to many Sherries, including the Grupo Estevez and Gonzalez Byass wines already reported, and he also awarded a perfect 100 point score to Barbadillo's Palo Cortado Reliquia VORS.

Luis Gutierrez with Robert Parker

Decanter Magazine has announced its 2013 World Wine Awards, and those for Sherry are listed below:

TROPHY
Gonzalez Byass Tres Palmas (Dry Fortified over £15)
Gonzalez Byass Tintilla de Rota (Regional Spanish Fortified over £15)

Lustau PX VORS (Regional Sweet Sherry over £15)

GOLD

Barbadillo Medium VORS

Fernando de Castilla Amontillado Antique

SILVER

Gonzalez Byass Dos Palmas

Gonzalez Byass Cuatro Palmas

Gonzalez Byass Amontillado del Duque VORS

Gonzalez Byass Matusalem Oloroso VORS

Lustau Abocado 1997

Lustau Almacenista Palo Cortado Manuel Cuevas Jurado

Lustau Oloroso Emeratriz Eugenia 

Lustau Oloroso VORS

Lustau Amontillado VORS

Hidalgo Amontillado Napoleon

Hidalgo Wellington

Hidalgo Wellington VOS

Williams & Humbert As You Like It

Williams & Humbert Collection 12 year old Oloroso:

 Students participating in the 5^th oenology course at Cadiz University (UCA) will be able to make their own wines, such as Tintilla de Rota, Moscatel, at the Rancho de la Merced as part of their practical work. The Rancho belongs to the Instituto de Investigacion y Formacion Agraria y Pesquera (IFAPA) which has an agreement with the University to allow oenology students to use its facilities. This year the wines will be bottled and used as institutional gifts at the University.