Fernando de Castilla Classic Amontillado Sherry, Jerez

Fernando de Castilla Classic Amontillado is a dry Sherry made entirely from Palomino by Bodegas Rey Fernando de Castilla in the historic centre of Jerez. It begins life as a Fino, ageing under a veil of flor yeast, before being refortified to 17%. Once the flor dies away, the wine continues to age oxidatively, in contact with air, in the traditional solera and criadera system in American oak casks. The wines in the blend have an average age of around seven years.

In the glass it is an old amber colour. The nose is very aromatic, with toffee, hazelnuts, golden raisins, burnt caramel, orange peel and a light mushroom note. The palate is dry, with fresh acidity and a citrus lift, soft hazelnut and almond flavours, hints of roasted coffee and old wood, and a touch of olive brine on the long, savoury finish.

Serve lightly chilled, at 12–16°C. It is remarkably versatile at the table, pairing with difficult vegetables such as artichokes and asparagus, consommés and soups, white meats, mushroom dishes and cured or mature cheeses. Ready to drink now; once opened, keep it in the fridge and enjoy it within a few weeks.

Bodegas Rey Fernando de Castilla is a small, independent Sherry house in the historic centre of Jerez de la Frontera. Its roots lie with the Andrada-Vanderwilde family, who produced grapes and wine for Sherry for around two centuries. In 1972 Fernando Andrada-Vanderwilde created the Fernando de Castilla brand, first for a fine brandy and later for Pedro Ximénez and Sherry vinegar. In 1999 the bodega was bought by Jan Pettersen, a Norwegian who had worked in Jerez since 1983, including 15 years at Osborne, and who also took over the cellars of the neighbouring almacenista José Bustamante. The house now focuses on complex Sherries bottled without fining, clarification or aggressive filtration. Its Antique range of single-solera wines, aged for up to 30 years, has built its reputation, and the bodega has also revived the old Jerez tradition of vermouth.