Bodegas Dios Baco Imperial VORS 30 Years Old Oloroso Sherry, Andalucia, Spain

Medium brown color; caramel, orange peel, oxidized white fruits, toffee on the nose; apricot, baked apple, caramel, almond on the palate.

Bodegas Dios Baco Imperial VORS 30 Years Old Oloroso Sherry, Andalucia, Spain

Dry; rich, nutty flavors. Creamy. Lean, stylish, ultra-fresh. Impressive acidity. Youthful in the mouth even though it is 30-year-old effort. Such is the superb magic and quality of sherry. Hints of salinity/minerality, oxidized fruits add to the impressive drama this presents to your pleasured palate. Combines the soft and delicate characteristics of the amontillado (medium dry sherry) and vinosity and texture of oloroso (palomino grapes—nutty, dried fruits, spice, big fragrance). 19.5% ABV

Bodegas Dios traces it beginning to 1848. At the dawn of the 20th century, Juan Vergara and Juan Palomino operated the winery. It then became part of Rumasa, operating for more than 20 years before becoming part of the multinational Jerez firm of John Harvey & Sons in 1983. In 1992, José Páez Morilla acquired the operation and named it Bodegas Dios Baco SL.

Bodegas Dios Baco owner José Páez Morilla (right) and winemaker

VORS means “Vinum Optimum Rare Signatum” (Wine Selected as Optimal and Exceptional—or Very Rare Old Sherry). The sherry must age a minimum of 30 years to earn the designation. VOS sherry ages at least 20 years; VORS 10 years longer. Aging is done using solera system where barrels of wine start at the top of a stack and regularly are lowered and topped off to account for wine lost through evaporation—the “angel’s share.”

Bodegas Dios Baco solera
Bodegas Dios Baco solera

The translated website notes: “Bodegas Dios Baco has manzanilla, fino, amontillado, oloroso, medium, cream, muscatel and pedro ximénez in its portfolio, while its range of VORS with more than 30 years of certified aging is made up of amontillado, oloroso, palo cortado and pedro ximénez.”

Bodegas Dios Baco Imperial VORS 30 Years Old Oloroso Sherry, Andalucia, Spain stylishly delivers everything you desire in an aged sherry. Extremely dry with excellent acidity to frame and complement the rich, full tastes. You can enjoy this by itself as the capstone to a great meal, its most common use, but sherry can pair with pork, beef, lamb, poultry for a gastronomic adventure. Also, charcuterie board; fresh fruit; mixed nuts. Cheese—young manchego; mild-to-medium cheddar; cheshire. Serve slightly chilled. Because of how it is made, an opened bottle of oloroso cherry can be stored for up to three years in your refrigerator. $92-100

Bodegas Dio Baco website (Spanish language)

Bodegas Dios Baco solera
Bodegas Dios Baco tasting room