DWWA 2025 - High Scoring Sherries

To record tasting notes and thoughts on fortified wines we might try which do not come from the demarcated region of the Douro Valley
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Alex Bridgeman
Croft 1945
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Location: Berkshire, UK

DWWA 2025 - High Scoring Sherries

Post by Alex Bridgeman »

There were some stunning sherries at the DWWA this year, some of which blew me away with their quality. Sherry prices - especially for the old wines - are creeping up as the quality of the wine in the glass gets to be better known. (I also note that according to JDAW's theory, I like Sherry more than I like Port...)

WineDWWA ScoreMy scoreMy comment
González Byass Tio Pepe Dos Palmas FinoGold - 9596Despite extended aging under flow, the wine is fresh and delicate on the nose. More time in cash shows more clearly on the palate with power and depth, with green almonds and intense iodine. Fabulous finish, huge and everlasting.
González Byass Tio Pepe Tres Palmas FinoPlatinum - 979410 years under flor takes a commitment and investment by the wine-maker but has resulted in a wine with surprising delicacy on nose and palate. The wine is subtle in its intensity but has enormous depth and character. Very impressive.
Valdespino La Especial Manzanilla en RamaGold - 9695The flor aging on the nose is very delicate and subtle - equally so on the palate. There is a mid-palate intensity to the fruit, which shows typical dryness and bitter fruit. Stunning finish, so long and powerful. This is such a classy wine.
Lustau Almacenista José Luis González Obregón AmontilladoGold - 9596Over 10 years of barrel age produces a wine with a surprisingly fruity nose. Elegant and delicate with sublime interplay on the palate and a balance that is to be envied. Mouthfilling aftertaste. Stunning.
González Byass Tio Pepe Quatro Palmas AmontilladoBest in Show - 979555 years old! But the delight was the balance the wine has, bringing together power and finesse. Huge on the palate, aged so long it tastes of bitter burnt sugar, which is a taste that just doesn't leave the mouth.
Bodegas Tradicíon Del Duque VORS AmontilladoBest in Show - 9797The darkest of the VORS Amontillado flight. Gentle nose showing the quality of the solera. Beautifully balanced on the palate with a lovely rainbow of flavours playing one after the other. A pot of gold lies at the foot of the rainbow, showing in the aftertaste and finish
Lustau VORS 30YO Amontillado en RamaPlatinum - 9795Incredibly attractive nose, elegant and fulsome. The palate is just as attractive with a glorious harmony to the wine. Eye-wateringly beautiful, with a long and lingering finish. Brilliant wine.
Harvey's Medium VORS 30YO Palo CortadoPlatinum - 9796Nicely pronounced yeast extract nose. Salty palate with an incredible intensity - truly astonishing finish that is so full of flavour. A fabulous example of everything an old Palo Cortado can offer when it has the harmony and balance of this wine.
Bodegas Tradicíon VORS 30YO Palo CortadoPlatinum - 9795Classic nutty nose, intense palate with concentrated umami and hazelnut. Powerful bitterness on the mid-palate with too much concentration for comfort. This is a wine which really will challenge even an experienced Sherry drinker - but it is absolutely magnificent!
Lustau VORS 30YO Palo Cortado en RamaPlatinum - 9797Surprisingly elegant on the nose for such an old wine. Modest entry with a gentle first impression. The gentleness gets slowly left behind as the symphony of flavours builds to a crescendo, slowly fading away on the aftertaste to leave a lingering echo reverberating in the mouth and memory.
Bodegas Tradicíon VORS 30YO OlorosoPlatinum - 9796Lovely aromatics, a wine very easy to sniff and forget to taste! Big on the palate, but with a lovely savoury core. Complex, with multiple layers of interest playing around on the edges of the tongue. Gloriously layered aftertaste and finish. Oh my! This is very impressive.
Lustau VORS 30YO OlorosoGold - 9594A little dirty on the nose but cleaner on the palate. Intense, austere and saline, stripping all the moisture out of the mouth of the person sipping the wine. A little too big, or perhaps trying a little too hard. Unbelievably impressive finish.
Harvey's Medium Very Old Blend 30YO OlorosoGold - 9695Nice and expressive on the nose, a sweetened Oloroso. The power of the Oloroso shows clearly through on the palate with the PX just taking the edge off the intense bitterness. Big and bold, this is a great wine to show that sweetening a wine does not mean compromising on quality.
Lustau VORS 30YO Cream en RamaGold - 9695Quite subtle on the nose, but attractive nonetheless. Well balanced on the palate with the sugar less than most in the flight and more of the Sherry character shining through. Has the en rama bottling made a difference to the wine? I don't know, but the wine is showing very well today.
Lustau VORS 30YO MoscatelGold - 9595Obviously old (VORS) from the colour with a very pretty on the nose. Intense floral flavours with excellent levels of acidity to balance the sugar. Very sweet, but with a lovely profile. Concentrated yet well balanced. An absolutely excellent aged Moscatel from the Jerez region.
González Byass Noe VORS Pedro XimenezGold - 9694Attractive nose of tea leaves and dandelion. Lovely texture - not too thick and not too thin. Rich on the palate, with a nice density, raisins and sultanas but also a little molasses and black treacle.
Harvey's VORS 30YO Pedro XimenezGold - 9596What a lovely nose! Such gravitas on the palate, with immense depth and concentration. Obviously sweet yet with savoury and meaty tones to the fruit. The complexity doesn't stop with the palate - the aftertaste and finish delivers an astonishing milk chocolate I don't think I've ever found in VORS PX before. What a really interesting wine.


I do admit, that was an extraordinary day of tasting. Some of those wines were just astonishing.
Top Ports in 2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.

2025: Quevedo 1972 Colheita, b.2024. Just as good as Niepoort 1900!
winesecretary
Taylor Quinta de Vargellas 1987
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Re: DWWA 2025 - High Scoring Sherries

Post by winesecretary »

Interesting that you liked the Dos Palmas so much. I remember tasting it for the first time back in 2011 and thinking it, then as now, a smashing bargain.
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Alex Bridgeman
Croft 1945
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Re: DWWA 2025 - High Scoring Sherries

Post by Alex Bridgeman »

winesecretary wrote: 15:25 Tue 15 Jul 2025 Interesting that you liked the Dos Palmas so much. I remember tasting it for the first time back in 2011 and thinking it, then as now, a smashing bargain.
It was a bit of a surprise. I normally prefer the elegance of a Manzanilla over the more obvious charms of a fino, but the Dos Palmas was impressive.
Top Ports in 2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.

2025: Quevedo 1972 Colheita, b.2024. Just as good as Niepoort 1900!
winesecretary
Taylor Quinta de Vargellas 1987
Posts: 2497
Joined: 14:35 Mon 13 May 2019

Re: DWWA 2025 - High Scoring Sherries

Post by winesecretary »

Spurred by this I have just bought 2 of the Bodegas Tradicíon Del Duque VORS Amontillado and 4 of the González Byass Tio Pepe Dos Palmas Fino. I now have sherry for summer. Hurrah!
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Alex Bridgeman
Croft 1945
Posts: 16020
Joined: 12:41 Mon 25 Jun 2007
Location: Berkshire, UK

Re: DWWA 2025 - High Scoring Sherries

Post by Alex Bridgeman »

I am delighted I was able to help. I'm also pleased that the people entering DWWA have made additional sales as a result of entering.

Happiness all round.
Top Ports in 2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.

2025: Quevedo 1972 Colheita, b.2024. Just as good as Niepoort 1900!
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