Tío Pepe

Tío Pepe, made by González Byass in Jerez de la Frontera, is one of the most recognised Finos in the world. The Palomino is grown on a large estate in the Jerez Superior zone, on the bright albariza chalk soils whose high lime content reflects sunlight and stores winter rain through the dry summer. The harvest is done by hand and the grapes carried in small boxes to avoid crushing and premature fermentation, with a gentle first pressing taken for the wine. Fermentation runs in temperature-controlled stainless steel, after which the wine is lightly fortified to around 15 per cent, low enough for flor to grow. Ageing takes place under that veil of yeast in the criaderas and soleras, where the flor shields the wine from air, consumes its glycerine and acetaldehyde and keeps it dry and saline while adding a bready, almond character. The colour is bright gold, the nose clean and elegant with almond and lees, and the palate dry and sharp with good body and a long finish. Serve well chilled at around 7 to 9 degrees in a white wine glass.