Wines of the week: June 29

When I tell people that I write about wine for The Lady, they always make some crack about sherry. There is an assumption that readers of The Lady drink only Bristol Cream. I am sure this is nonsense. In fact it would be interesting to find out what you do enjoy. I know what the staff at The Lady HQ likes, as during our recent wine tasting, the most popular wine was… a sherry!

Matusalem Oloroso Dulce Muy Viejo, Gonzalez Byass (Waitrose, £16.14 for 37.5cl)

This is the one that so impressed at The Lady HQ. It’s sweet but no way cloying. In fact, for a 20% alcohol wine it’s dangerously drinkable. It’s also gorgeous, with layers of walnuts and dried fruits; and a long finish.

Manzanilla Pasada Pastrana, Hidalgo (Majestic Wine, £10.99 for 750ml)

Manzanillas come from a little town on the Andalucian coast called Sanlucar de Barrameda. They tend to be the driest, freshest of all sherries. This one is unusual because it comes from a single vineyard and it has been aged for longer, giving it a rich saltiness that reminds me a little of Marmite; goes wonderfully with anchovies.

Fernando Castilla Antique Amontillado (The Sampler, £26.50 for 50cl)

This is sophisticated stuff. A very old rare Amontillado from one of the smallest sherry houses, Fernando de Castilla. Extremely dry and complex; we drank it with an unpasteurised Comté and the nuttiness of the cheese and the sherry married perfectly.

Waitrose Solera Jerezana Fino del Puerto Sherry (Waitrose, £8.54 for 75cl)

Oddly enough, this was one that didn’t go down so well with the ladies at The Lady. I love it for its uncompromising dryness and yeasty notes, though I do admit that it’s an acquired taste. Buy a bottle, chill it and have a little each day – I promise by the end you will be hooked.

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