Tio Pepe Fino en Rama 2023 - is it just me?

[Richard Zambuni]

Hmmmnn. I've been buying this wine from TWS for as long as I can remember. So, I duly ordered three bottles of the 2023 bottling. However much to my surprise it tastes a bit sour and maybe even coarse towards the finish. Now I've been drinking this wine with great pleasure for a long time so I was really surprised. My remaining two bottles are on their way back to TWS tomorrow - and that's the first time I've ever invoked their return policy.

 

[George Marshall]

Their promise should give you the option of a refund on the bottle you didn’t enjoy too, if you wish to make use of it

 

[Thom Blach]

I haven't bought this, and nor have I found past vintages particularly approachable, always better if left open for a week or aged for a year or three. On the other hand I have nearly always preferred non 'en rama' versions of all these wines which I realise makes me a heathen.
One of the things that has become clear in recent years is that the notion of freshness and super recent bottling being necessary to the full appreciation of Fino and Manzanilla as promulgated by the estimable Julian Jeffs is no longer true at all, though I'm sure it was in the days of less efficient distribution. I am even told that really old bottles are now quite the thing with aficionados in Spain.

 

[Bill Marks]

I must agree with you in preferring the normal bottle. If I remember correctly the bottles for local consumption were less fortified and fresher than those destined for Britain. I do not know if this is still true.

 

[Thom Blach]

The days of Fino fortified to 20% are well and truly gone. I really liked Inocente when it was stronger, for some reason.

 

[Simon Reilly]

I took 4 halves from TWS and had the first one last weekend and really enjoyed it. Also a long term buyer. Will have another one soonish and will report back as didn’t take any proper notes

 

[Richard Ward]

I haven't finished my 22's yet!

 

[Nigel Lierop]

Your post prompted me to open one of my 6 halfs last night. No problem as far as I could tell; just huge salty, yeasty depth!

 

[Richard Zambuni]

Your post prompted me to open one of my 6 halfs last night. No problem as far as I could tell; just huge salty, yeasty depth!

Perhaps I got an odd bottle. It's certainly possible, but it was well off the pace of recent years.

 

[Jonathan Budd]

I’ve opened one of mine and thought it was fine. I think I had a preference for the 22 release though, which seemed more refined…but I certainly never thought there was an issue with the 23.

 

[Gareth J Welch]

Just had my first bottle of this - utterly mediocre.

Barbadillos Manzanilla en Rama Pastora knocks spots of this ….. as does La Ina, Pastrana, TWS’s Sanchez Romante etc.

All cheaper too.

 

[Thom Blach]

Just had my first bottle of this - utterly mediocre.

Barbadillos Manzanilla en Rama Pastora knocks spots of this ….. as does La Ina, Pastrana, TWS’s Sanchez Romante etc.

All cheaper too.

These things can close down massively. Leave it open for a couple of weeks and it may get better.

 

[Nayan Gowda]

Had a bottle of this yesterday.

Very full, but rather coarse on the palate. Reminded me of a Pasada as opposed to a straight Fino.

Had integrated well on the second day.

Would not rush to buy again.

 

[Gareth J Welch]

These things can close down massively. Leave it open for a couple of weeks and it may get better.

Yes itll get left in the caravan for a week or two I never seem to quite finish a bottle so theres often part bottles of Sanchez Romante left from previous visits.

Wouldnt say they improve but they hold on v well be intersting to see if the Pepe En Rama does blossom.

 

[Richard Zambuni]

This week I've opened a Sanchez Romate Fino Perdido, which (although I'm not doing a side-by-side comparison) I find more to my taste than the 2023 Tio Pepe Fino en rama. The extra age and depth that this cuvée has are not to everyone's taste, but I really like it.

 

[Gareth J Welch]

Yes at £9.25 it can’t be beat for vfm as you say its not “light n salty” but broader and a bit older yet stll very fresh and a bottle open keeps even unfridged for a good couple of weeks.

 

[Thom Blach]

This week I've opened a Sanchez Romate Fino Perdido, which (although I'm not doing a side-by-side comparison) I find more to my taste than the 2023 Tio Pepe Fino en rama. The extra age and depth that this cuvée has are not to everyone's taste, but I really like it.

I like it too, finding it both demanding and weird, which are obviously excellent qualities though not ones which suggest casual refreshment.
Now that there is a fashion for really old fino I'm half-hoping that an original bottle of Valdespino Inocente at the original 20%(?) alcohol turns up, if only to assuage my curiosity, I used to like it very much indeed.