SF | Soft steely colour, sun-kissed straw. The aromatic is appropriately rural, with orchard fruit character, hints of iodine and white pepper, verbena and soft spice. Mid-palate authority, dry bark austerity and the wrap of yeasty acidity, severe and forthright. Again the alcohol is modest, the concept of ripeness, or the lack of it, as irrelevant here as with fortified siblings. A little foursquare, again in need of gastronomic interplay. 86
AJ | Bright light gold. A little less aromatic profile overall than its peers: clean, vegetal, weighty and perhaps 'Jerez' in that combination; a little yeastiness, too. More acidity than most of its peers, with a little more weight and drive; plenty of flor tang also. It works, though for me the acidity is a little hard and raw -- green olive flavours with a kicker of green apple in the marinade somewhere. Slightly more ample expression would be welcome, but this will refresh as it shouDrink Dates: 2024 - 2025. 88
DW | Rounded and honeyed baked pear combine with struck match crackles, and a tingle of just-ripe appley crunch and snap and some yeasty savoriness. A glossy feel but with a really pleasing, lipsmacking push and pull between grilled, almost smoky characters and the juicy white fleshy fruit which continues into the refreshing but lasting finish. Again, so much of interest and pleasure and charm at 11.5% abv!Drink Dates: 2024 - 2028. 93