Gonzalez Byass, Leonor Palo Cortado 2016

A superb introduction to the most mysterious style of sherry.

Palo Cortado is an intermediate style of sherry with which sits ambiguously between Amontillado and Oloroso with characteristics of both.
This particular offering from Gonzalez Byass is produced from Amontillado sherry and aged for 12 years before bottling.
The nose has notes of sponge cake, almonds and hints of ginger biscuits.
The palate feels like it'll be sweet before ending up dry at the back, the flavours, joined by ripe cherry, carry through.
Drink this one chilled on a summer's eve paired with salted almonds or your favourite salted crisps.

Grape variety: Palomino Fino
Vintage: 2016
Type/Colour: Palo Cortado
Alcohol: 20%
Bottle Size: 75cl
Group: Sherry

'Powerful, intense, complex, wonderfully balanced, silky, smoky and almost meditative - evocative of old wood, leather and antique shops, There are layers of flavour here including dried mango, toffee apple and bitter chocolate. Thrilling stuff.' - Decanter, 2016

The seed that grew into Gonzalez Byass was planted in 1835 by Manuel MarÃa Gonzalez Angel, with Robert Blake Byass - his agent in England - only joining the firm two decades later. The two families remained in partnership through much of the 20th Century and the business has grown to be one of Sherry's most recognisable and important names. In 1988 the Gonzalez family bought out the Blass family, taking sole control of the business. The business is based in some fine buildings in Jerez, including one designed by Eiffel. This is a must-see for any Sherry tourist, as is popping inside to see El Cristo (a Sherry butt holding in excess of 157000 litres), which was purchased for the visit of Queen Isabella II in 1862. This gigantic butt is accompanied by twelve 6000 litre butts, representing the twelve apostles, which surround El Cristo, except for Judas, which is used to store vinegar! Today, the company's cellars hold over 45 million litres of Sherry and Brandy de Jerez.