You have undoubtedly heard of it before. But have you ever tasted it? Almost certainly not!
Yet this is a meditation wine of the highest order.
We are great fans ourselves. And as historic Palo Cortado becomes increasingly rare, we never hesitate when we are offered an allocation.
These wines are truly unique!
I can already hear many people saying: Sherry? Not my thing. Then try a Palo Cortado…
This is a world away from the basic Sherries that used to sit in your grandparents’ cupboard. This is tension in the glass, exceptional complexity and, above all, an almost endless finish. We offer them in many different styles and, most importantly, across a wide range of prices…
They come both from the classic Sherry region in and around Jerez, and from Montilla-Moriles, where the grape variety is not Palomino, but Pedro Ximénez. Both styles are interesting and well worth discovering.
They can also be paired with many different dishes or served as a dry conclusion to a meal alongside mature cheeses. The possibilities are truly extensive.
But what exactly is Palo Cortado? Originally, these were barrels intended to become fino Sherry. During regular tastings, however, an anomaly was sometimes noticed in the wine. The original chalk mark placed on the fino barrel was then crossed out, distinguishing it from the other barrels.
Until that point, the wine had undergone biological ageing beneath a layer of flor. Once the chalk mark had been crossed out, literally “Palo Cortado” in Spanish, alcohol was added so that the wine could continue ageing oxidatively, like an oloroso.
This explains the wine’s exceptional complexity.
Most Palo Cortados are aged for at least 25 years in the solera system. Some are more than 100 years old…
Below is a summary of what we currently have available:
This is something you should definitely have in your cellar, even if it is only one bottle…