Gonzalez-Byass Jerez-Xérès-Sherry Alfonso Oloroso Seco NV

Light golden brown with a nose of honey roasted nuts, and light wood notes. In the mouth caramel, dry nuts, and more soft wood develop. Medium acidty is balanced by a light sweetness at the start. 3.5/5 [NR]

Alfonso, Jerez, Oloroso Seco, Palomino – Gonzalez Byass 18% Georgeous light carmel color brilliant clear with hints of gold that flash as you swirl it in the glass. Carmel, wood, salt air, Raw nutmeg, light roasted nut notes and all supported by a light vanilla underlayer. Light and heavey in the mouth at the same time if possible, the flavors are ethereal with a rich salty, wood laden body that lingers in the mouth. Strong flavors of carmel, salt, citrus, light wood notes, light toffee and more and more. This is my first Seco Oloroso so I won’t rate it but if this is even a decent at best example of the style than I need to buy more of this. Similar to a Fino in that the rich salt quality is there and lingers, but more hefty than the delicate almost feminine nature of the Fino. Both offer so much and in such surprisingly different ways. The Oloroso is a dry play on the basic elements that make up wine. So much so that I even taste a slight tannin on the mid-palate. But like a chef would a soup, the mire-poix of acid, tannin, fruit, is then sprinkled with a dash of salt air so as to bring alive the sleeping flavors. Too bad so many of us associate sherry with grandma and the sweet wine she drank, unbalanced and heavey, when before us is a treasure trove just waiting to be discovered. I can’t wait to explore further this family of wine and all of it’s manisfitations, hopefully learning what else is out there to stimulate the mind and palate. [NR]