Found this a few years back at Corti Brothers. From what I understand, it’s a 20-year-old Solera-method PX. It was utterly fantastic, a hyper-intense experience of aged sweet Sherry.
Unfortunately, it apparently was somewhat of a one-off. I’d love to find something roughly equivalent. Any suggestions?
From the way back machine that is my addled memory: Sandeman bottled a series of old solera sherries back in the early 1980’s: fino, amontillado, palo cortado, and pedro ximenez. The others will come to mind if I think about something else, but they named the palo cortado Royal Ambrosante and the px Imperial Coregidor. The palo cortado was my favorite. I still have a bottle or two of Royal Ambrosante and Imperial Coregidor buried deep in my basement cellar. They are wonderful.
Uh, what site are you looking at? The WineSearcher I used shows only two places with the wine, both in Europe.
The wine-Searcher that provides these links -
https://www.totalbev.com/product/SANDEMAN_AMBROSANTE_PEDRO_XIM?p=500324
http://www.dallasfinewine.com/wine.php?wine_id=08043290009
http://www.du-vin.net/product_info.php?cPath=131_132&products_id=113854
https://www.reservebar.com/wine/sandeman/sandeman-royal-ambrosante-pedro-ximenez-20-year-old-sherry
I recall that I had a couple of 375ml bottles of it when I worked retail. Sandeman also offered an Amontillado and an Oloroso (“Royal Corregidor”, I think), in addition. They were $25/btl in ~2006. Phenomenal values.
You could pour it on pancakes! Oh my, I enjoyed it and it provided me with a use for some tiny demitasse glasses I had sitting around.
I would compare the “1827 Pedro Ximenez” from Osborne as a comparable sweetie. IMHO, the “Royal Ambrosante” was more like Cane Syrup, whereas the Osborne “1827” had a slight flavor of burnt raisins that liked it to Molasses in comparison.
You know, I bet you could still find some out there. It will never “go bad”…
The bottles of Sandeman Royal Ambrosante Palo Cortado I recall from the 80’s look like this:
I still have a Imperial Corregidor Oloroso hanging around
Imperial Corregidor, which is PX as I recall…
That is the label I recall, and as far as I remember, the series first came out in the late '70s. My favorite was the Royal Esmeralda Amontillado. I liked the Palo Cortado too, but never could appreciate PX.
I doubt that recent bottlings are anywhere near the quality of the early ones.
Michael, thank you very much for the links. I have no idea why my WS search yielded only two sources from Europe.
Sandeman had two series of Sherries in the past, the Imperial and the Royal series. The Imperial was the higher end although both were excellent. They ended the Imperial line some time ago. The Royal line is still seen from time to time but both have been superseded by the VORS and VOR designations.
I have a bottle of Sandeman V.V.O. Oloroso Sherry and cannot find a rating/notes on Cellartracker. I have had this bottle for a loooong time. Anyone have experience?
VVO is Very, Very Old. They bottled these some years ago, maybe 20-30 years. I also have a bottle as well as a couple of VVO Amaroso, a slightly sweetened Oloroso. It’s excellent, but pretty dry.
The Amontillado was called Royal Esmeralda. The Imperial Corregidor and Royal Ambrosante were my favorites. I still have a bottle or two of each, I’m guessing purchased in the 70s. I think the Royal Corregidor can still be found, and it’s pretty good, but nothing like the Imperial Corregidor was.