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Barbadillo Principe Amontillado 12 Year Old: Rich Heritage in a Glass

Barbadillo Principe Amontillado 12 Year Old: Rich Heritage in a Glass

8 /10
EDITOR
8.0 /10
COMMUNITY (5)
Vineyard: Barbadillo
Type: Fortified
ABV: 19.5% ABV
Price: £19.95
Grape Varieties: Palomino Fino

Tasting Notes

Nose

Complex bouquet of candied peel, cinnamon, and dried fruit, with a saline mineral edge

Palate

Rich and complex on the palate with walnut, dark chocolate, and a saline edge that adds freshness

Finish

Long and complex close with raisin, walnut, and a pleasingly dry tannic grip

First Impressions

Barbadillo Principe Amontillado 12 Year Old (half bottle) arrives at £19.95, and at this price, it needs to offer genuine quality to stand out in a crowded market. 37.5cl / 19.5% - Drincipe de Barbadillo is an Amontillado sherry made using grapes grown in the pagos Gibalbin and Santa Lucía around Sanlúcar, Spain. Aromas of fresh lemons,.

Spain continues to surprise and delight, with traditional styles being elevated by a new generation of producers who balance heritage with innovation. Barbadillo is a name worth knowing in this context.

On the Nose and Palate

The nose offers complex bouquet of candied peel, cinnamon, and dried fruit, with a saline mineral edge. Moving to the palate, the wine is rich and complex on the palate with walnut, dark chocolate, and a saline edge that adds freshness. The finish is long and complex close with raisin, walnut, and a pleasingly dry tannic grip.

Food Pairing and Serving

Wonderful with strong cheeses, charcuterie, or dark chocolate desserts. Serve slightly chilled at 12-14°C for lighter styles, or at room temperature for richer expressions.

The Verdict

Barbadillo Principe Amontillado 12 Year Old earns a well-deserved 8 out of 10. This is an outstanding fortified that delivers Palomino Fino with genuine conviction and craft. At £19.95, this represents excellent value for money. Whether you are building a cellar or simply looking for something excellent to drink tonight, this bottle earns its place.

Where to Buy

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Ash Carrington
Ash Carrington
Reviews Editor

Natural Wine, Orange Wine, Skin-Contact, Asian Wine, Craft Winemaking

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Community Reviews

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Benjamin Ross VIPsAllowed - Proper grown-up sherry
9/10

Picked this up after the guy in the wine shop said it was brilliant value for a 12 year old amontillado. He was right — it's got this amazing nutty, chocolatey thing going on with a salty edge that makes it weirdly refreshing for something at 19.5%. Absolutely loved it with some manchego and olives on a Friday night.

29 December 2025
Ryan Mitchell VIPsAllowed - Interesting, takes some getting used to
7/10

First time trying an amontillado so I wasn't totally sure what to expect. It's quite intense — lots of dried fig and spice, almost like marmalade on the nose. The dry finish caught me off guard but it grew on me over the evening. Decent for the price, glad I tried something different.

16 December 2025
Jackson Wu VIPsAllowed - Nice but not sure I'd rebuy
7/10

Got this as part of a sherry tasting we did for my mate's birthday. It's good — dried fruit and walnut flavours, and the finish goes on forever. Just not sure it's £20 good when I can get a decent bottle of red for that. Would probably have it again at a restaurant though.

27 November 2025
Liam Anderson VIPsAllowed - Changed my mind about sherry
8/10

I always thought sherry was what your nan drinks at Christmas but this is something else entirely. Dark chocolate and cinnamon on the nose, really rich but somehow not heavy. My wife and I had it after dinner instead of dessert and it was perfect.

23 November 2025
Annika Svensson VIPsAllowed - Incredible with cheese
9/10

Saw this recommended somewhere online and tracked it down. The walnut and raisin flavours are gorgeous and there's this salty freshness that stops it being too sweet. We had it with a cheese board and some figs and honestly it was one of the best food pairings I've stumbled on. You'd never guess it was nearly 20% alcohol either, it's so smooth.

2 October 2025

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