Osborne VORS Capuchino Palo Cortado (1790) VORS (500 ML)
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Parker
Robert - Decanter
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Spirits
Wine & -
Spectator
Wine
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The Capuchino Palo Cortado is a rare wine coming from one of the oldest existing soleras in the Jerez district dating back to 1790. The name Capuchino refers to the Capuchin monks who live in Jerez. While sold as a VORS (guaranteed minimum age of 30 years) it is at least twice that age.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The NV Capuchino VORS Palo Cortado displays a bright mahogany robe, has a nose of incense, noble woods, quince, a touch spirity and lots of hazelnuts, while the medium- to full-bodied palate is quite bitter, intense and powerful with the roundness of an Oloroso, persistent and full, with good acidity, ending with a note of coffee. Drink 2013-2017.
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Decanter
Complex nose of walnuts, dried stone fruit and leather, followed by a salty tang on the palate and a creamy finish.
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Wine & Spirits
An essential Palo Cortado, from a solera established in 1790, this holds to the drier side of the style. It seems to have absorbed all the limestone of the albariza soil of Jerez, presenting it with a mineral austerity that is saline to the extreme. However, it also carries a few drops of sweetness, a touch of gentleness that will make it a fine bridge to the juicy, dark meat of roasted game birds.
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Wine Spectator
Very racy, with an intense ginger, green tea and bitter almond core that stretches out, with mouthwatering acidity and serious cut. A long echo of dried orange peel runs through the finish.
Founded in 1772, Osborne is one the most prestigious and oldest bodegas in all of Spain. Founder Thomas Osborne Mann was an Englishman whose arrival in Spain was driven by the growing demand in London for wines from Jerez. Upon arrival, he formed a partnership with Sir James Duff, British Consul in Cádiz, streamlining the export market for wines to England and other countries. A few years later, he established the first winery that would carry his name and quickly established the bodega as the pre-eminent producer of Sherry. Osborne has remained in family hands ever since, housed in the original centennial building located in the town of El Puerto de Santa María. Bolstered by their well-established legacy in Jerez and respect for the land and their fellow producers, Bodegas Osborne has been able to preserve some very old soleras. Until recently, most of these soleras were only ever consumed by the Osborne family and were never intended for commercialization. Starting in 2013, the Osborne family commercially released the VORS and Rare collection of sherries for the first time in many decades. These bottlings are extremely limited, and far exceed the 30 year minimum parameters for being labeled VORS; indeed, many of the soleras were begun in the 18th and 19th centuries. What makes this sherry unique? Amontillado 51-1a is an icon in the Sherry district. One of the oldest and finest examples of Amontillado. Solera was founded in 1830. The total Solera is composed of 52 barrels and only 1.5% of the wine is drawn yearly from each barrel. After the dismantling by Pernod Ricard of the Allied Domecq empire in 2005, the VORS soleras were bought by Osborne and moved to El Puerto de Santa Maria, where they now form part of the bodega/museum along with other amazing soleras. These old wines have been beautifully looked after by oenologist Ignacio Lozano, despite their lack of real profitability. They could never be sold for their real value, but help give prestige to the bodega and its other products.
Sherry is a fortified wine that comes in many styles from dry to sweet. True Sherry can only be made in Andalucía, Spain where the soil and unique seasonal changes give a particular character to its wines. The process of production—not really the grape—determine the type, though certain types are reserved for certain grapes. Palomino is responsible for most dry styles; Pedro Ximénez and Muscat of Alexandria are used for blending or for sweet styles.
Known more formally as Jerez de la Frontera, Jerez is a city in Andalucía in southwest Spain and the center of the Jerez region and sherry production. Sherry is a mere English corruption of the term Jerez, while in French, Jerez is written, Xérès. Manzanilla is the freshest style of sherry, naturally derived from the seaside town of Sanlúcar de Barrameda.