12 yrs since discovering this gem and then acquiring a few 375’s I am sadly on my last one and it remains a terrific olfactory and palate parade of salty sec AF - not one molecule of sugar- caramel banana nut bread bakeshop. Wine Searcher completely dry for a refill - argh.
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Sunday Salon (Chicago, IL): From magnum. I have to wonder whether El Maestro Sierra is in fact my favourite sherry producer. This bottle was incredible. It's so lifted, elegant, and light, with just a hint of sotolon. Lots of salinity and freshness here, with vibrant acidity that makes this a dangerously easy sherry to drink. I could readily see this as a table wine, it's so light and lifted. Delicious.
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Bananas. This is paradigm great amontillado. The nose goes on forever with sea spray/shells, nuts, roasting coffee at peanut stage and cinchona. Rich and intense. What you imagine as platonic Sherry on palate. Long finish. I took 45 minutes to drink a glass.
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Drank this with sushi, one of the best pairings for sushi in my opinion. The fino must be drunk young, if it remains in the bottle too long it spoils (few months max ideally). It's then obviously a sherry but not excessively so, therefore great for people who appreciate subtle oxidation but not the full-blown sherry taste. Also great to drink on its own.
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Enjoyed @ Alinea's "in residence" dinner in Miami.
I am a sherry newcomer and don't have much to compare this to - but wow. hazelnut, caramel, salinity, tobacco, incredibly light, and super long finish.
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(NV El Maestro Sierra Amontillado 1830 "Vinos Viejos") This had a very spirity nose of leather, hickory smoke, burnt orange, old oak cask and earth. The palate was wonderfully vinous with bright citrus fruits, nuts and incredibly salty minerality. Long finish and barely showing its 19% alcohol. This wine has great energy in the mouth. Pretty remarkable stuff.
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9/12/2023 - Tgood wrote: 98 Points
12 yrs since discovering this gem and then acquiring a few 375’s I am sadly on my last one and it remains a terrific olfactory and palate parade of salty sec AF - not one molecule of sugar- caramel banana nut bread bakeshop.
Wine Searcher completely dry for a refill - argh.
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10/16/2022 - acyso wrote: 95 Points
Sunday Salon (Chicago, IL): From magnum. I have to wonder whether El Maestro Sierra is in fact my favourite sherry producer. This bottle was incredible. It's so lifted, elegant, and light, with just a hint of sotolon. Lots of salinity and freshness here, with vibrant acidity that makes this a dangerously easy sherry to drink. I could readily see this as a table wine, it's so light and lifted. Delicious.
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5/15/2022 - AndrewSGHall wrote: 97 Points
(2021 bottling)
Bananas. This is paradigm great amontillado. The nose goes on forever with sea spray/shells, nuts, roasting coffee at peanut stage and cinchona. Rich and intense. What you imagine as platonic Sherry on palate. Long finish. I took 45 minutes to drink a glass.
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5/30/2018 - jjwleiden wrote:
Drank this with sushi, one of the best pairings for sushi in my opinion. The fino must be drunk young, if it remains in the bottle too long it spoils (few months max ideally). It's then obviously a sherry but not excessively so, therefore great for people who appreciate subtle oxidation but not the full-blown sherry taste. Also great to drink on its own.
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2/28/2016 - Jeffkunins wrote: 95 Points
Enjoyed @ Alinea's "in residence" dinner in Miami.
I am a sherry newcomer and don't have much to compare this to - but wow. hazelnut, caramel, salinity, tobacco, incredibly light, and super long finish.
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