Fernando de Castilla Antique PALO CORTADO NV

Tio Pepe, the world's best-selling Fino sherry, has been refreshing palates since the 19th century, when a young Sherry entrepreneur from Jerez, in southern Spain, discovered his uncle was ageing barrels of a delicious pale, dry style of sherry. By way of tribute, he named the new wine after his uncle, who was affectionately known as "Tio Pepe". It's ultra-dry, crisp and refreshing.

Note this is a half bottle (37.5cl) Delicate and luxurious, this Manzanilla is truly superb. It's been aged in oak casks through 15 scales of the 'Solear' system of sherry-making.

NOSE Coffee and dark chocolate. PALATE Very sweet with a super thick texture. Appealing almonds/amaretto character. Subtle taste of figs. FINISH Caramel and toffee. Long, thick, and mouth-coating.

Nose: relatively close to a Fino in the sense that it shows similar chalky / yeasty notes and a pungent salinity. Maybe a little more delicate, with a lot of rounder notes as well: a little caramel and dried apricot. Hazelnuts and almonds. Hints of honey, old wood and subtle oak polish. Mouth: very un-sweet of course, but it lacks the austerity that sometimes comes with dry Amontillado. Quite light with few flavours that really stand out. Orange peel. Almonds. Medium acidity. Some half-sweet notes in the background (think figs and citrus). Also a faint bitter edge of chestnuts.