Gonzalez Byass Leonor Palo Cortado Sherry / 12 Year Old
Fortified 20% ABV ABV Gonzalez Byass
11 March 2026
Bit unusual for me
My partner got this as part of a birthday present set. I normally stick to reds so this was out of my comfort zone. It's well made and the finish goes on forever, but the whole savoury aged-cheese thing isn't really what I look for in a drink. Partner loved it though.
6 March 2026
Not totally my thing
Bought this for a dinner party and it went down well with the guests but I'm not sure it's for me personally. The savoury cheese-rind thing on the nose was a bit odd at first. That said, the finish is lovely and long so I can see why people rate it.
24 January 2026
Perfect with a cheese board
This with some manchego and almonds on a Friday night is genuinely one of my favourite things right now. The dry nuttiness just works so well with hard cheese. 20% and you honestly can't tell — dangerously smooth.
18 January 2026
Really surprised me
Picked this up because I wanted to try something different from the usual red wine rut I've been in. The nutty, dried apricot thing going on is gorgeous and it's weirdly easy to drink for 20% ABV. At about twenty quid this feels like a proper bargain for how complex it tastes.
2 January 2026
12 years well spent
Had this at a tapas restaurant and immediately went and tracked down a bottle. For £21 you're getting a 12-year-old fortified wine that genuinely gets more interesting the longer it sits in the glass. The dried apricot and nut combo is addictive. Absolute steal.
25 December 2025
Good intro to palo cortado
I'd never had a palo cortado before and this was a great starting point. You get the dried fruit and hazelnut upfront and then it goes into this tangy, dry finish that keeps building. Gonzalez Byass clearly know what they're doing. Would love to try their other sherries now.
29 November 2025
Great winter sipper
Been working my way through different sherries this winter and this is one of the better ones. Proper structure to it and a nice clean finish with those lingering nutty notes. Only complaint is I wish I could find it more easily — had to order online.
10 October 2025
Solid sherry for the price
Got recommended this by the guy at my local wine shop when I said I wanted to get into sherry. It's decent — nice balance between sweet and dry, and the hazelnut flavour is definitely there. Not mind-blowing but I'd buy it again.