Tres Palmas (Gonzalez Byass)

In 2013 the flor has been very active, which is good news for this release

Read a general introduction to the Finos Palmas 2013 here.

Fino Tres Palmas is 10 years old and the layer of flor is slowly falling apart into patches. It’s rare for a Fino to retain an active layer of flor this long, this is really a Fino at the edge of becoming Amontillado.

Tres Palmas is taken from the same solera as Dos Palmas in the Gran Bodega Tio Pepe, but in this case from one single butt #30 in the 1st criadera (the layer right above the oldest layer).

Update: read my review of the Fino Tres Palmas – 2016 edition

Fino Tres Palmas (16%, González Byass 2013)

Nose: Fino Amontillado alright. I love this crossover between the subdued Fino aromas (a chalky minerality) and the luscious caramel / butter toffee of the Amontillado side. Something of half-dried apple chips and apricot marmalade. A lot of (unsalted) almonds, also hazelnuts. Hints of toasted bread and even vanilla. There’s also a solventy / polished note already, though much less noticeable than in Cuatro Palmas for example.

Mouth: dry with the highest acidity of the four Palmas. Still the tangy focus of a Fino, but with more oxydized flavours. Grapefruit and lemon, lime peel, sourdough bread and walnut skin. Brine. Hazelnuts. Soft herbal honey. Elegant, bittersweet finish.

Availability: primarily sold in the UK and Spain but other selected markets have a small allocation as well. Around € 30 for a 50cl bottle.

Summary: With elements of both Fino and Amontillado, it's clear that Tres Palmas is a complex wine. It falls in between stools, but sometimes that's exactly what we're looking for.

4

Very good

Tags: 16%, 2013, En Rama, Fino, Gonzalez Byass, Palmas, Tres palmas

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