Lustau Oloroso Nuno

Lustau Oloroso Nuno is a fortified wine in the oloroso style. Oloroso is the sherry category aged with air contact rather than under a layer of yeast, so it is darker and weightier than fino or manzanilla. Styles like this usually pour amber to mahogany and smell of walnut, dried orange peel, toffee, tobacco leaf and a little polished wood. On the palate, expect a full, round body with a saline, nutty center and a long finish that holds on to roasted-nut and dried-fruit notes. Oloroso is generally fermented dry, though some bottlings are sweetened, so check the label for the sweetness level. Because it is fortified, expect a higher alcohol level than table wine, typically in the high teens, and there is no tannin structure to speak of. Lift comes from acidity and salinity, not grip. Serve it cool, not cold. About 12 to 14°C (54 to 57°F) keeps the alcohol in balance and lets the nutty, savory aromas open up. An hour in the refrigerator, then a few minutes on the counter, gets it there. Decanting isn't needed, since the wine has already spent years in contact with oxygen. A tulip-shaped sherry copita is the traditional glass. A small white wine glass works as well, filled only a third full so the aromas gather above the surface. Oloroso suits food with richness and savory depth. It is good with aged hard cheeses such as Manchego or Parmigiano, roasted mushrooms, braised oxtail or short rib, lamb, duck, and salted almonds or jamón. A dry example also works well with mushroom soups and with consommé-style broths, where a splash can be added at the table. If this bottle turns out to be off-dry, it fits better with blue cheese, pâté, or desserts built on walnuts, caramel, or dried figs. This is a drink-now wine, since it has been aged before bottling and won't improve in the bottle. Stored upright in a cool, dark place, an unopened bottle keeps well for years. Once opened, reseal it and refrigerate it. Oloroso holds its character far longer than most wines, usually a few weeks, though the aromas fade gradually over that time. One note on the listing: the producer and origin shown for this product don't match the sherry style implied by the name. This description therefore relies on the style and doesn't state a verified region or producer profile.