Valdespino Fino 'Inocente' Pago De Macharnudo NV, Jerez, Spain - 1.5l

Single vineyard…Sherry? The “pago” designation is more frequently associated with the powerful, ageworthyreds of Rioja and Ribera del Duero, but ignore this one at your peril. Straw yellow in colour, this has a remarkable Sherry nose of almonds and yeast, the sort that draws you in with layer after layer of complexity. Take a sip and you’ll find a distinctly savoury flavour profile with plenty of salinity, though there’s also tangy green apple and toasted, yeasty bread notes. This is long, lingering and seriously interesting stuff. Sherry hipsters unite!

There’s enough going on here that you could just sit, sip and contemplate the world. If you’re feeling peckish, a bowl of mixed nuts is ideal. Take things further with some smoked fish or fish pie.

The Valdespinofamily have been knocking Jerez de la Frontera since 1264, and theirs is one of the few remaining family-owned wineries in the region today. This single vineyard lies at some 135 metres above sea level, made up of albariza, the legendary white soils of Jerez. The combination of marine fossil-rich soils, elevation and aspect make for a remarkable terroir, and Valdespinohas quite rightly developed a reputation as the leader in single vineyard Sherries as a result.