Valdespino "Tio Diego" Amontillado Jerez
SKU #1124287
93 points
Wine & Spirits
Extremely dry, this austere Amontillado comes from the white chalky albariza soils of the famed Macharnudo vineyard. It aged under flor for about eight years, and then spent eight more years aging oxidatively before being bottled. At first, it shows only the classic flavors of iodine and salt, with enchanting sea breeze notes. You have to wait for the fruit flavors to emerge, notes of roasted white fruit and nuts emerging in the midst of its cool flavors. Only for fans of super-dry Sherry, this is ideal for mojama, cured tuna belly.
(10/2015)
92 points
Wine Advocate
The NV Tio Diego Amontillado Palomino from the Macharnudo vineyard, is fermented in botas, aged biologically for 10 years under flor in a solera separated from Inocente, and with a further five years of oxidative aging. It has a beautiful, perfumed nose of dry flowers, very elegant and clean, subtle, with some saline notes, both in the nose and the palate, where it is balanced, medium-bodied and elegant. A very fine Amontillado, showing superb value for a 15-year-old wine. Drink 2013-2019. (LG)
(8/2013)
92 points
Wine Spectator
Smoky and taut, featuring date, dried orange peel, clove, singed sandalwood and salted caramel notes. The dry, nervy finish has lots of tension. Begs for salted almonds. Drink now. (JM)
(10/2013)
Jancis Robinson
Tasted blind. Copper brownish colour. This is a tight and extremely concentrated Amontillado, great intensity, expression and saltiness. Extremely complex showing dry fruits, tobacco, cloves, clean oak and touch of yeast. It is a wine I particularly like and an amazing bargain for €12 retail in Spain. I am very astonished and enthusiastic about the finesse of this Tío Diego. 17.5/20 points. *Very Good Value* (FC)
(1/2018)
K&L Notes
Produced from palomino grapes grown on a single 53 hectare vineyard in Marcharnudo alto, the best growing area in Jerez, Tio Diego might be our most elegant amontillado in stock. An average of 14 years old, this amontillado is still a bit more on the fino side of the spectrum, given its long ageing under flor as part of the Fino Inocente solera. It shows a similar purity and focus, with more richness and some slightly more nutty suggestions from the oxidative ageing. It is really a lovely aperitif, and one of the classiest amontillados I can think of for this purpose.
