Quinta do Noval is the go to Port house for those who prefer VP in a more elegant guise. 1995 was a terrific year at Noval and now almost 20 years old, it is a beautifully balanced and supple wine with a lush, plump texture and smooth, round tannins. Intense flavours of plums, raisins and dark chocolate abound with a hint of secondary development now peaking through.

Opaque dark mahogany in colour, with an amber rim. This wine is reminiscent of figs, dates, raisins and licorice on the nose. Spectacluar flavour and density, but not at all cloying. Its light acidity leaves the palate clean. Very long aftertaste. Emilio Lustau is one of Spain's greatest Sherry bodegas and is named after Don Emilio Lustau Ortega who founded the family estate in 1896. Renowned for the quality of their Sherries, Emilio Lustau is probably best known for pioneering the Almacenista system, whereby individual dry Sherries are produced from small private holdings. These are bottled under Lustau's name but with the individual bodegas name on the label as well. In addition to their standard range of wines the estate also produces a stellar range of limited edition and Solera Reserva sherries which are amongst the finest wines in the region. A stellar producer of this famous wine style.

It is a lovely, driven, spicy, nutty and smoky Amontillado with a generous, pulpy, glycerol-rich personality and a complex finish that has a twist of quinine and bitter coffee.

Sercial produces the driest and most bracing Madeira style, and is best served as an aperitif, with tapas style dishes or seafood. It also works very well with Sashimi, consommés or soups.