After a couple of days without sherry it is a pleasure to tuck into this, a small production wine from La Callejuela (obtained from the Cuatrogatos wine club).

It is an orange-brown colour and has a very powerful nose of  alcoholic caramel and vanilla and maybe some marmalade, baked citrus in the background.

On the palate there is pronounced salinity, real power and zing. For such a lightly coloured wine there is more astringency than expected too, then woodiness to it, including in the long finish – maybe notes of vanilla caramel but very very dry – almost dusty dry. Maybe a little on the woody/dusty side for my taste if anything.

Big nose, concentration and dryness – a classy, grown up amontillado.