Fino Pale Dry (Aguilar)

Antonio Aguilar, a former sherry importer in The Netherlands

This Fino is produced in the D.O. Montilla – Moriles, the neighbouring region of the D.O. Jerez / Sherry / Xéres.

Aguilar Fino is bottled by the supermarket chain Delhaize, which is active in Belgium, Eastern Europe and the US. In their supermarkets you will also find a Medium sherry, port wines and a vino de color under the Aguilar brand, as well as other sherries like the Fino R.C. Ivison and better known brands like Tio Pepe.

Antonio Aguilar Porto The label bears the signature of Antonio Aguilar. This must refer to Antonio Aguilar y Obea, who moved from Huesca (Spain) to Holland and started a wine business in The Hague in the late 1800s: Maison Antonio Aguilar. He was best known for his Port, Madeira and Sherry wines and a long-time supplier of Delhaize. After his death the business was taken over by Gall & Gall (part of Ahold which will soon merge with Delhaize). Thank you Jean Pierre for pointing me to this information.

Although the name has quite a history, we have no clue about the bodega that produced this Fino from Montilla.

Aguilar Fino Pale Dry (14,5%, +/- 2013)

Nose: easy and soft. There’s some almond aroma and walnut, as well as a faint hint of yeast. Yellow plums. Rather limited and restrained.

Mouth: the first attack is fresh with a bright acidity. A sweet and fruity element in the background. Fairly young, only medium dry I would say. Soft hints of butter and hazelnut. A slightly bitter note towards the end. Medium finish.

Availability: every Delhaize supermarket. Around € 3,50 for a 75 cl bottle.

Summary: A soft and easy-going Fino, really inoffensive but too young and too bland to be recommended. A true supermarket wine, though useful as a first introduction to sherry aromas.

1.5

Not convinced

Tags: 14.5%, aguilar, delhaize, Fino, Montilla-Moriles

About the Author

Ruben is a Certified Sherry Educator who fell in love with sherry some 25 years ago, but switched to a higher gear in 2013 and started writing about it. Lived in Madrid for a couple of years, now back in Belgium. I also run a whisky blog over at www.whiskynotes.be