Gonzalez Byass Tio Pepe Palomino Fino Sherry

Product of: Spain

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Tío Pepe is made from Palomino Fino grapes with an estimated ageing period of five years. The Tío Pepe guitar-player logo was first created at the end of the 1920s to symbolise the Andalucian origins of the brand. Now the largest Sherry producer, González Byass is still a family owned business.

In 1835, the 23 year-old Manuel María González Angel founded his Sherry business when he rented a small warehouse in the centre of old Jerez and begun ageing his first casks. During a business visit to England he met Mr Robert Blake Byass, a wine importer who became the British agent and later in 1855, a partner in the company. Hence the firm’s name of González Byass.

Another figure that played an important role in the success of González Byass was Manuel’s uncle - José Angel, then an acknowledged expert in Sherry. He was known locally as ‘Tío Pepe’, meaning ‘Uncle Joe’ in Spanish and so the name of world’s best-selling Fino sherry produced and exported since 1844, is a fitting recognition of his advice.

Serve ice cold in a small wine glass to accompany all kinds of food, particularly nuts, olives, cured ham and sushi. Or serve as they do on hot days in Jerez, over ice or even 'Rebujito'. Pronounced 'Ray-Bow-He-Toe', this is a generous splash of Tio Pepe served in a tall ice-filled glass topped with 7-Up.

Review and Tasting

Sampled on 19/02/2017

Appearance:

Clear, pale straw.

Aroma:

Yeasty, minerally with faint olive brine.

Taste:

Bone dry, mineral (hard water) with slight oiliness, grapey acidity and hints of anchovy stuffed olives, lightly salted crisps and green apples.

Aftertaste:

Very long, lingering salty olives and grapy acidity.

Overall:

Bone dry, wonderfully complex and superbly structured. Be sure to drink whilst still fresh (ideally within days of opening), well-chilled and with almonds or other suitable nibbles.