Christmas Sherry picks
Decanter’s tastings team picks out the best sherries to drink this Christmas...
Sherry and food matching advice:
Good Amontillado pairs just as well with turkey as it does with a bowl of mixed nuts, while richer Oloroso should be tried with hung game or mature cheeses. Serve both cool.
Pedro-Ximénez is Christmas in a glass – deliciously sweet and viscous, with raisined, fruitcake flavours. If you can stomach it, drink a glass (chilled) with Christmas pudding. If not, pour some over ice cream for an alternative treat.
Know your sherry styles
Christmas sherry recommendations:
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Sweet wine for Christmas
Tawny Port recommendations
Gonzalez Byass, Una Palma, Fino, Jerez, Spain
93
Taking its name from the chalk mark made on the Fino casks during the Sherry’s final classification process, this vibrant and elegant wine is laced with almond and floral aromas with some seasoned spice. The palate is complex, fresh, nicely textured and very attractive.
Gonzalez ByassFino
The Wine Society, The Society's Fino, Fino, Jerez, Spain
Tony Morrhall, Sherry buyer at The Wine Society, is a Jerez expert of enthusiasm and long standing. His list is one to watch for its...
The Wine SocietyFino
Bodegas Alonso, Velo Flor, Manzanilla, Jerez, Spain
A new wine for the Society and a brand only launched in 2017 by brothers Fran and Fernando Asencio, made from bought-in almacenista wines. The...
Bodegas AlonsoManzanilla
Equipo Navazos, La Bota 42, Manzanilla, Jerez, Spain
From Bodega Sanchez Ayala in Sanlucar de Barrameda. Six to seven years old, bottled in spring 2014. Powdery nose and savoury, saline palate with peaty...
Equipo NavazosManzanilla
Aldi, Exquisite Collection, Amontillado, Jerez, Spain
89
A delicious Amontillado at a cracking price made by the renowned bodega, Barbadillo - which uses the Pedro Rodriguez & Hijos brand for its Aldi Sherries. With flavours of toasted walnuts, dried figs and sweet spices, it would be a great match for mince pies or Christmas pudding, so stock up now.
AldiAmontillado
Gonzalez Byass, Viña AB, Amontillado, Jerez, Spain
91
Viña AB is a classic that can be too easily overlooked. It’s a stylish Amontillado that ticks all the boxes: it's polished, refreshing and textured; a 12 year old with no sense of age.
Gonzalez ByassAmontillado
Morrisons, The Best, Oloroso, Jerez, Spain
92
Astonishing value. This oloroso from top producer Emilio Lustau is all roasted nuts and caramel richness on the nose, a punch of citrus zest on the palate and a long, dry, saline finish. It sets the palate alight! Lamb roasted in oloroso is a delicious dish, though extravagant; but at this price it is definitely worth doing.
MorrisonsOloroso
Equipo Navazos, La Bota 74 Oloroso, Oloroso, Montilla-Moriles, Spain
Pronounced nutty aromas giving the impression of walnuts and hazelnuts buried in earth. This is followed by raisins and a honeyed character on the palate...
Equipo NavazosOloroso
Equipo Navazos, Pedro Ximénez Casa del Inca, Montilla-Moriles, Spain, 2015
Deliciously thick and sweet with its alluring notes of raisins, figs, damsons and plum compote, this PX is decadent and spicy. There is a certain...
2015
Equipo Navazos
