16.1.18 High Parker Scores for Williams & Humbert

Luis Gutiérrez, the Wine Advocate’s Spanish wines specialist, has given some very high scores to Williams & Humbert. Wines scoring 90 to 96 points are “Outstanding wines of exceptional complexity and character, in short, these are terrific wines”. The firm’s Don Zoilo Amontillado and Oloroso scored 90 while Canasta 20 years old, launched at the end of 2016 scored 91. But more exciting still, were the excellent scores achieved by the Añada wines which oenologist Paola Medina has been working on since 2000. The Fino en rama Añada 2012 scored 94 and the Fino en rama Añada 2007”Tiento” scored 93. The Amontillado Añada 2003 scored 92+ while the Olorosos en rama Añadas 2001, 2003 and 2009 scored 92, 91+ and 90 respectively. These very high scores have given great recognition and encouragement to Paola’s pioneering work with single vintage wines, especially in the field of biological ageing, and she is to be congratulated.

22.5.16 Amazing Parker Scores for Sherry

New Sherry releases are among those which have achieved amazing scores from Luís Gutiérrez, Robert Parker’s Spanish expert. Since his arrival in recent years Spanish wines have featured more prominently in the Wine Advocate, and especially Sherry. 90 points or more qualifies a wine as “Excellent” and in the latest issue there is a long list of high-scoring Sherries, 48 in fact with over 90 points. He scored many wines from Cádiz highly, but I've only listed the Sherries here. These results really show that the Sherries and table wines of the province are heading in the right direction.

The two highest scoring wines come from the bodega Manuel Aragón “El Sanatorio” in Chiclana, bottled for Equipo Navazos. They may not technically be Sherry but they are every bit as good as the scores demonstrate. La Bota de Oloroso 63 “Bota No” (easily 80-90 years old) scored 99 points while La Bota de Palo Cortado 62 “Diez Años Después“ (well over 50 years old) scored  98 points. This is the first time a bodega in Chiclana has ever achieved scores like this.

Here are some highlights:

Williams & Humbert scored well with their superb newly released Añadas. The Fino de Añada 2009 scored 93 points, the Amontillado de Añada 2003 scored 92 and the Oloroso de Añada 2003 scored 91. Dry Sack 15 Years Old scored 90 points.The Blanco brothers of Viña la Callejuela did very well: Amontillado La Casilla scored 94, Callejuela Amontillado 91, Manzanilla Madura 90, Manzanilla Blanquito 91, Oloroso El Cerro 93 and Callejuela Pedro Ximénez 93. González Byass got high scores for Cuatro Palmas 97, Tres Palmas 93, Dos Palmas 93, Una Palma 92 and the Palo Cortado de Añada 1987 scored 97 while Tio pepe en rama scored 91. And the tiny bodega of Conde de Peraleja got 93 for their Salto al Cielo Oloroso 1/5 and 93 for the Salto al Cielo Pedro Ximénez 1/5.

Other outstanding scores are as follows:

Barbadillo Manzanilla Pasada en rama Pastora 93, Solear en rama Invierno 2015 94

Luís Pérez Fino La Barajuela 93, Oloroso La Barajuela 91

Cayetano del Pino Palo Cortado Solera 93, Palo Cortado Viejísimo 1/5 95

Delgado Zuleta Manzanilla Barbiana en rama 91

Faustino González Oloroso en rama Cruz Vieja 91, Palo Cortado en rama Cruz Vieja 92

Hidalgo La Gitana Cream Napoleón 93

Emilio Hidalgo Pedro Ximénez Inédito 96

La Guita Manzanilla en rama 93

Juan Piñero Amontillado 91, Amontillado VORS 92, Oloroso 90, Oloroso VORS 94, Manzanilla Pasada Maruja 94, Palo Cortado 92

Sacristía AB Amontillado 93, Oloroso 91, Manzanilla 1ª saca 2015 91

Sánchez Romate Amontillado Olvidado 1/5 93, Fino Perdido 1/15 92

Tradición CZ Cream VOS 92, Fino Viejo 93, Palo Cortado VORS 96

Viniberia Pedro’s Almacenista Selection (PAS) Fino 90+, PAS Oloroso 92, PAS Palo Cortado 91