PX, as it is better known in its abbreviated form, is the very richest and stickiest style of Sherry to be found. The Pedro Ximénez grape is picked and sun-dried to produce very concentrated sugars in the raisined grape. The result is an ultra sweet wine with a treacly texture and flavour. It is often enjoyed poured over vanilla ice cream.
These wines began their life as Manzanillas and then the flor was allowed to die away so they continued their maturation with exposure to the air in the barrel. Therefore the wine has a deep topaz colour with roasted almond character yet retains the characteristic tangy flavour of Manzanilla. This wine has been slightly sweetened with Pedro Ximenez to give it a raisined edge.
Contains all the drama and intensity you would expect from a 20 year old plus, 500g/l sugar PX, and you can drink it too. There is coffee, liquorice, sweet tobacco, prunes, figs, raisins, tea and a dozen other fleeting scents with a surprising lightness and delicacy. An incredible, seductive, luscious and wonderful to drink sherry.
Barbadillo’s Finos are more Manzanilla-like in style, but are aged in Bodegas with less exposure to the cooling sea breezes. The flor in the barrels grows vigorously in these cellars so the wine is a little more nutty and toasty than the more appley and yeasty Manzanillas of Sanlucar.
Pale, straw yellow in colour. Decidedly tangy, yeasty and salty nose. Lighter, crisper and more crackly than its older sibling - Fino. The palate lures you in with soft apple and citrus flavours, then attacks with a savoury nutty tang, and finishes with a salty reminder of the fresh spray of the sea.
Rich and long with greater depth and complexity than a standard Fino - as such Jan refers to this as his ‘Winter’ Fino! Appealing salty tang and a long citrus finish. Very fresh and pure.