Valdespino Isabela Cream

Valdespino Isabela Cream comes from Valdespino, among the oldest wineries in Jerez, with roots reaching back to the 13th century and now part of Grupo Estévez. The house is known for its traditional ageing methods and works with Palomino Fino grown on the albariza chalk soils that hold moisture and reflect the Andalusian sun, ripening the fruit while preserving its acidity. Isabela Cream blends dry oxidative Oloroso from Palomino with sweet Pedro Ximénez, the latter sun-dried to concentrate its sugars before fermentation is arrested by fortification. Because the base wines are fortified above the threshold at which flor yeast survives, the blend ages oxidatively, exposed to air through the cask. This slow oxidation builds the deep mahogany colour, the creamy texture and the raisined depth that give Cream sherries their name. It is sweet and rounded, showing raisin, date, caramel and walnut with a thread of orange marmalade, balanced by a gentle oxidative bitterness on the long finish. Serve lightly chilled at around 13 degrees in a tulip glass.