Emilio Lustau - Dry Amontillado Los Arcos Sherry (750ml)

A text book Amontillado of great maturity. Naturally dry and soft, its palate gives a hint of wood and smoky raisins. A powerful and distinctive nutty bouquet. A better Amontillado would be difficult to find. Drink as a warming apéritif. Serve slightly chilled.

Lustau calls it dry but Los Arcos definitely has some aromatic and palate sweetness. The nose settles on brown sugar, peach, mixed nuts and honey. It's not super tight or acidic, and thus the palate drips maple and molasses. Medium-bodied and balanced, but with that shot of sugar offset by honest but mellow acids.

Round style, yet not without good bite underneath. Boasts caramel, bitter cocoa and iodine notes, picking up roasted nut on the lingering finish. Drink now. —Bruce Sanderson,