sipping wine

Pedro Ximenéz Reliquia Barbasillo　ペドロ・ヒメネス レリキア バルバディージョ

外観　濃い茶褐色
香り　非常に豊かで深い香りである。糖蜜、干し無花果、干しぶどう、キャラメル、マッシュルーム、コフィー、トフィー、
味わい　ごく甘口、非常に豊かで複雑な味わいが口の中に広がりそれが非常に長い心地余韻となってどこまでも続く。豊かな酸と甘さのバランスも良く、幾層ものコクのある液体である。アルコール度数は高めであるが、あまり感じない。

D.O. Jerez - Xérès - Sherry
アルコール度数16%

この非常に熟成したペドロ・ヒメネスは、西麻布のフェルミンチョでシェリーの勉強として出してもらったもの。このペドロ・ヒメネスは100年以上経っているものだそうだ。料理とシェリーのマリアージュの最後にこのペドロヒメネスが素晴らしいマリアージュのとどめを刺すくらい美味しかった。

RELIQUIA　（レリキア）
意味は「聖者の遺品」である。
このレリキアは、４つの非常に古く、珍しいシェリーのシリーズの名前である。バルバディージョ家が作ったもので、昔、バルバディージョ
家が熟成していたものである。数年前から、限定品として手に入るようになった。
レリキアにはVORSの表示はないが、どのシェリーも、シェリーの中でも最も古いものであり、古いものでは150年以上も前のものである。
ペドロ・ヒメネスは、ドン・テラン・カレラから、バルバディージョに1880年代に売られた二つのカスクが起源である。

RELIQUIA
PEDRO XIMÉNEZ Barbasillo D.O. Jerez - Xérès - Sherry

Reliquia Pedro Ximénez (Barbadillo)

The Reliquias is a series which includes four of the oldest, rarest sherries produced by Bodegas Barbadillo. Originally each of these casks were reserved for the Barbadillo family, but since a few years they are available on the market in limited quantities.

Although the Reliquias don't have VORS age statements, it is clear that each of them is among the oldest wines in the sherry region, with ages estimated up to 150 years.

The Pedro Ximénez Reliquia comes from a couple of casks that were sold by Don Rafael Terán Carrera to Don Antonio Barbadillo Ambrossy in the 1880s. Terán Carrera was a Cantabrian whose family was involved in Bodegas Rodriguez Lacave and Bodega del Trillo. One of his nieces was the wife of Antionio Barbadillo Ambrossy. In 1921, the wine from these barrels formed the base of the ancient PX solera in the 'Bodega del Potro' in the Calle Sevilla in Jerez, which Barbadillo acquired just two days before his death.

Besides this Pedro Ximénez Reliquia, there is a Reliquia Amontillado, Oloroso and last but not least a Palo Cortado which achieved a 100 points score in Robert Parker's Wine Advocate. Only 40 bottles are made available every year. A lot of these now find their way to the UK, Russia and China.

Pedro Ximénez Reliquia (17,5%, Barbadillo)

Nose: a dark and complex nose, with a remarkable pungency of medicinal notes (something in between menthol and iodine). Filled with dried figs and plum compote. Nice hints of polished exotic woods, with a faint smoky edge. Balsamic syrup. Dates and chocolate nibs.

Mouth: dense with a well integrated sweetness. Lots of fruits at first (raisins, baked apple, chocolate coated figs) including a remarkable refreshing acidity. Quickly gets drier. Liquorice. Vanilla. Hints of herbal cough candy as well. Very long aftertaste on exquisite dark chocolate and roasted coffee beans. Hints of Turkish coffee.

Availability: very limited and very expensive. Its price has taken quite a hike in the last few years. Around € 200, but the Parker effect now makes it impossible to find under +/- € 800.

Appearance This wine is deep brown. Nose The wine has clean and pronounced intensity aromas of dried fruits ( fig, prune, raisin) , black fruit ( black plum compote), Herbal ( medicinal), deliberated oxidation( walnut, toffee, caramel), fruit developement ( dried fig, cooked plum) , bottle age ( mushroom, leather). They are mainly very complex tertiary aromas. Palate This wine is lucious, medium+ acidity, full body, medium alcohol. This wine has pronounced flavour intensity of dried fruit ( dried fig, raisin, plum compote), deliberate oxidation( walnut, coffee tofee, caramel) , molasses, bottle age ( mushroom, tobacco, forest floor) . This finish is long with complex tertiary aromas and flavours. Assessment of quality Outstanding Readiness for drinking can drink now, but has potential for being kept for a long time.