Sandeman Cream Sherry Oloroso Vintage Bottle Spain 70 cl 18%

Some bottles have travelled further than most. This one has made its way from sun-soaked vineyards in Jerez to an old wine merchant in Hamburg, and the label still carries the marks of that journey. A bottle with patina, not polish.

Expert's Description

Sandeman Cream Sherry Oloroso is a fortified wine from Jerez, Spain, with an alcohol content of 18%. Sandeman is one of the most respected names in both Port and Sherry, founded in London in 1790 by the young Scotsman George Sandeman, who borrowed £300 from his father to start a wine trading business with goods from Porto and Jerez.

This bottle is an older edition of the house's classic Cream Sherry, imported at the time to the German market by Charles Hosie GmbH in Hamburg. The label references "By Appointment to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II," a mark Sandeman carried for many years as a supplier to the British royal household. The Cream Sherry Oloroso style typically starts as a dry-fermented Oloroso base, into which a sweeter Pedro Ximénez sherry is blended to add colour, body and sweetness. The result is a dark, oxidatively aged fortified wine, far removed from the light, fresh style of Fino and Manzanilla.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Deep and complex, with notes of roasted nuts, raisin and a touch of caramel. Beneath the sweetness sits a hint of wood and old leather, typical of oxidatively aged sherries.

Palate

Full and soft on the palate, with dried fruit, walnut and a creamy sweetness from the Pedro Ximénez addition. The texture is thick, almost syrupy.

Finish

Long and warm, leaning towards dark chocolate and roasted almonds.

Serving & Food Pairing

Best served at 10-12°C in a small sherry glass that gathers the aromas. Decanting is not necessary. Cream Sherry Oloroso pairs naturally with blue cheese, dark chocolate or a simple caramel-based dessert. As an older collector's bottle, we recommend checking the condition of the cork and liquid before opening it to drink.

Specifications

Name: Sandeman Cream Sherry Oloroso
Producer/Winery: Sandeman
Region/Country: Jerez, Spain
Appellation/Classification: Jerez-Xérès-Sherry (DO)
Vintage: Non-vintage (NV)
ABV: 18%
Size: 70 CL
Serving Temperature: 10-12°C
Decanting Recommended: No
Glass Type: Sherry Glass

Flavour Profile

Full-bodied · Sweet · Nutty · Creamy

Did You Know?

The iconic "Don" in Sandeman's logo was drawn in 1928 by Scottish artist George Massiot Brown. The figure wears a Portuguese student's cape and a Spanish sombrero at once, a visual tribute to the house's dual home in both Porto and Jerez.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Sandeman Cream Sherry Oloroso

What is a Cream Sherry Oloroso?

It's a sweetened style of the dark, oxidatively aged Oloroso sherry. The base is fermented dry, after which a sweeter Pedro Ximénez sherry is blended in to give the characteristic creamy body and sweetness.

Is this bottle rare?

It's an older edition of Sandeman's Cream Sherry with a label and importer marking no longer in use. Its exact age and production size aren't known with certainty, but the design places it before 1980´ies.

Can you still drink an old bottle of sherry like this?

Sherry, especially the sweet and oxidatively aged styles like Oloroso, generally keeps well for years, since it's already been exposed to controlled oxidation during production. That said, its condition should always be checked visually before opening.

How should the bottle be stored?

Standing upright, cool and dark, ideally at a steady temperature. Being fortified, sherry is less sensitive to storage issues than regular wine.

What food pairs well with Sandeman Cream Sherry Oloroso?

Blue cheese, dark chocolate and nut-based desserts work well with its rich sweetness and nutty character.

Does it make a good gift?

For a collector or sherry lover with an eye for history, it's a bottle with a story beyond its contents, thanks to the old label and importer history.

Who is behind Sandeman?

Sandeman was founded in London in 1790 by the Scotsman George Sandeman and is today one of the world's best-known names in Port and Sherry, with production rooted in both Porto and Jerez.