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Saturday, March 24, 2-4pm

Sherries from Emilio Lustau

Sherry is fortified wine from southern Spain that ranges of style from bone dry to syrupy sweet. Unlike other wines, sherries are aged using system called a solera. The solera consists of a series of blended wine of different ages. At bottling only a portion of each barrel of the oldest stock is drawn off, blended with other solera stock and bottled. The barrels are then topped from the barrels of the next oldest, which in turn are filled from the next oldest until they reach the youngest barrels which are filled with new wine. With aging these new blends take on the characteristics or the older wine. The number of levels in a solera varies with each producer and style. Sherry must be at least 4 years old to be bottled, but many age much longer. Join us on Saturday and try a range of the sherry from top producer Emilio Lustau. Andy Scollard will be on hand talk about the Sherry making process and of course pour a few tastes.

Lustau Solera Reserva Dry Amontillado "Los Arcos" $15
Palomino Fino, the wine tips in at18.5%
A gorgeous golden-amber-brown Amontillado. Dry and soft, with hints of wood and smoky raisins and a distinctive nutty bouquet. The Los Arcos got 90 pts from Parker who describes it as offering "good body as well as a heady personality." Delicious on their own they are equally an accompaniment to soups, especially light meat soups such as consomme. But they also go with so many other foods: seafood, game dishes and meat terrines. Amontillados should be served cool, but not too chilled.

Lustau Solera Reserva Palo Cortado "Peninsula" $22
Palomino Fino. And in this corner 19%
Palo Cortado combines the finesse and delicacy of an Amontillado bouquet with the richness of an Oloroso. Amber gold and dry with rich flavors of light chocolate, coffee, figs and toffee. Robert Parker chimes in with 92 pts, "One of my favorites among the drier, lighter styled sherries . . . great balance, intensity and acidity as well as a scorched earth/roasted nut character, it is stunning flavorful yet light crisp Sherry." Served slightly cooled, the Peninsula goes with cheeses and very rich meats such as venison and smoked game.

Lustau Old East India Solera Reserva $23
Palomino Fino, sweetened with Pedro Ximenez, the heavyweight 20%
In the past, casks of sherry that were lashed to ships sailing for the Indies as ballast were found to develop an extraordinary smoothness and complexity. Lustau revives this style in the East India Sherry. A blend of soleras averaging 15-20 years of age, this wine has a dark amber, red and caramel hue, and flavors of raisins, candied peel and nuts. 94 pts Parker, "a huge nose of melted toffee, caramel, figs and prunes. This over the top yet surprisingly vibrant (because of good acidity) effort is best drunk as dessert at the end of a meal."

Lustau Solera Reserva Pedro Xim?nez "San Emilio" $25
Pedro Ximenez, 17%
Almost black in color with a pronounced bouquet of sweet raisins, the San Emilio is very rich, sweet, and viscous with flavors of dried raisins, walnuts, and treacle. This is a dessert wine consumed on its own or with rich, fruity puddings, or classically poured over vanilla ice cream.