Alvear Pedro Ximénez Sacristía 2008

Alvear Pedro Ximénez Sacristía 2008 comes from Bodegas Alvear in the D.O. Montilla-Moriles, in the province of Córdoba in north-central Andalusia. Alvear is among the oldest houses in the region and is unusual for bottling Pedro Ximénez as dated vintages. The grapes grow on albariza, the white chalky soil that holds moisture and reflects heat, and after harvest they are sun-dried so the berries raisin and their sugar concentrates intensely before pressing. This 2008 then spends around fifteen years in solera, the fractional ageing system that blends across casks while slow oxidation in oak deepens the colour and builds complexity. The long time in wood under high sugar drives the wine to a dark, dense state. The nose is rich and layered, with raisin, dried fig and date to the fore, joined by caramel, molasses and a roasted, coffee-like note. On the palate it is thick and syrupy, coating the mouth, intensely sweet yet held together by a savoury depth and a very long finish. Serve lightly chilled at around 12 to 14 degrees in a small glass. It is excellent over ice cream, with dark chocolate, or with aged hard cheese.