SF | Old gold colour, wood having accompanied our child over several years....the aromatic is broad and generous ( yeast, apple, fig and water cress) , still, however, as it turns out a less than entirely reliable portal to the complexity to be found on the palate which marries an embarrassment of seemingly contradictorily sensations; the sweet and the savoury their mere bookends. Generous austerity sums it all up well, the one feeding the other. 92
AJ | Interestingly, this looks older than the Manzanilla 2016, in that there is a faint walnut cast to the gold, here Correct, but not much more than that; lacks a little dimension and power. No lack of dimension and power on the palate, though, and for me this is more than 50% amontillado -- it already has the diagnostic basmati-rice note of amontillado. Terrific on the palate but rather low-slung, and it is a bit under-powered aromatically. Interesting but not wholly successful. A delicious sherry, but the way, and well worth a look ... but this is elevated company.Drink Dates: 2024 - 2025. 90
DW | Just one vintage-dated fino, but its much older age makes comparisons with the vintage-dated Manzanillas rather tricky. So let's take it on its own terms, which is a wine with notes of toasted wheat and buttered sourdough, and a slick and creamy feel, appetizingly savoury and rewardingly substantial.Drink Dates: 2024 - 2025. 94