10.5.16 High Parker Scores for Williams & Humbert

The innovative and seriously interesting Añada range from Williams & Humbert has received very high scores from Luís Gutiérrez, the Spanish wine specialist for Robert Parker's Wine Advocate. The Fino Añada 2009 scored 93, the Amontillado Añada 2003 scored 92 and the Oloroso Añada 2003 scored 91. Also scoring high marks was the Dry Sack 15 Year Old Oloroso Abocado with 90 points. Wines scoring 90 points or above are categorised as "excellent".

Paola Medina, the oenologist at Williams & Humbert, said that the new vintage releases are a reflection of the bodega's philosophy of combining tradition with innovation and always looking for new ways forward for the firm's legacy of over 130 years of Sherry production. They already have a comprehensive range of Añadas dating from 1920, and in 2000 they began experimenting with Añadas produced by crianza biológica. In the end, what these amazing wines demonstrate is the sheer versatility of Sherry, whether aged dynamically or statically, and these scores recognise the validity of our line of work. 

9.9.13 Parker Points for Barbadillo

Bodegas Barbadillo in Sanlucar has also received impressive scores from Luis Gutierrez, Robert Parker's man in Spain. This is the first year that Sherry has achieved the perfect score (also Valdespino's Moscatel Toneles). Few Spanish wines have achieved this so far, and they were all red. At last we have a wine journalist who understands Sherry! That is not to belittle Jose Penin, who has always realised the quality of Sherry and awarded points accordingly.

Reliquia Palo Cortado: 100

Reliquia Amontillado: 98

Palo Cortado VORS: 97

Reliquia Oloroso: 95

Amontillado VORS: 94

Oloroso Seco VORS: 94

Reliquia PX: 93

Oloroso Dulce VORS: 93

Manzanilla Solear en Rama Saca de Primavera: 93

Manzanilla Solear en Rama Saca de Invierno: 92

Amontillado Principe: 91

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.

News from Jerez 17.9.12

Manuel Lozano wins Best Fortified Wine Maker award - again

The International Wine Challenge in London has awarded the accolade to Lustau’s winemaking chief for a second time. He is responsible for all the Emilio Lustau wines and the ex Domecq wines such as La Ina and Rio Viejo. The award was presented at what is known as the wine “Oscars”, at which the wines themselves won 20 medals and 3 trophies.

Robert Parker has already awarded 90 points or more to 8 Lustau wines, 96 to the Palo Cortado Peninsula. Spain’s Guia Penin awarded 9 wines 90 points or more with La Ina and Papirusa getting 96 and 94 respectively. It is wonderful to see Jerez getting such recognition.

Rain arrives
After a drought ridden year, the rain has finally arrived to refill reservoirs and raise the water table. Up to 4 times the average monthly precipitation has fallen in 1 day, some 75l/m2 ! Andalucia is suffering torrential rainfall, which of course just runs over the parched land. What is really needed is lighter but sustained rain which will be more easily absorbed.