Don PX 2023

Don PX 2023 is a sweet Pedro Ximénez from Toro de Albalá, a Córdoba house founded in 1922 and based in Aguilar de la Frontera, in the D.O. Montilla-Moriles. It is made entirely from Pedro Ximénez. Straight after harvest the grapes are dried in the sun until they turn to raisins, which concentrates their sugar to very high levels. The raisined fruit is then pressed under hydraulic press, undergoes a partial fermentation, and is fortified with the addition of spirit to fix the natural sweetness before all the sugar can convert. The wine then rests for a year in stainless steel, which preserves the bright, fruit-driven character of the young vintage rather than taking it down the deep oxidative path of long cask ageing. It pours amber with coppery highlights. The nose is generous, with raisin, dried fig and honey to the fore, backed by caramel. On the palate it is thick and sweet, the concentrated dried-fruit character carried by a plum-like depth and a long finish, with the residual sugar held in check by the warmth of fortification. Serve lightly chilled at around 12 to 14 degrees in a small glass. It suits chocolate and caramel puddings, ice cream and aged hard cheese.