Pedro Ximenez Sherry

Pedro Ximénez is sherry at its most indulgent. The grapes are laid out in the fierce Andalucían sun after picking, drying until they shrivel into raisins and their sugars become intensely concentrated. The dark, syrupy must is fortified and then aged in the solera system, where it slowly gains depth and complexity over the years.

The result is one of the richest wines in the world: deep mahogany in colour, with flavours of fig, date, raisin, molasses, coffee and liquorice. Younger examples are lush and sticky, while older, rarer bottlings develop remarkable intensity, with a savoury, almost balsamic edge that keeps all that sweetness in balance.

A small glass makes a dessert on its own, but PX is also a brilliant partner for chocolate, Christmas pudding and blue cheese. Try pouring a little over vanilla ice cream for one of the simplest and most delicious puddings there is.