Valdespino Moscatel 'Toneles'

Valdespino Moscatel 'Toneles'

Producer: Valdespino
Region: Jerez, Andalucía, Spain
Country: Spain
Type: Sweet fortified wine
Grape: 100% Moscatel
Aging System: Solera from a single cask (bota única)
Estimated Age: 80 to 100 years
Alcohol: ~15%
Residual Sugar: 430 g/L
Annual Production: Only 100 half bottles (375ml)
Score: 100 points – Robert Parker

Description

An absolute jewel of Jerez and arguably the oldest Moscatel still in commercial circulation, Valdespino’s ‘Toneles’ is one of the rarest and most extraordinary sweet wines in the world. It comes from a single forgotten barrel, left undisturbed for decades, and is now released only in minute quantities — barely 100 half bottles per year.

The wine is nearly impossible in texture and complexity: dark as molasses, thick as syrup, yet miraculously suspended by vibrant acidity and a mineral backbone that carry an infinite cascade of flavours. It delivers an astonishing mosaic of dried figs, apricots, orange peel, crème brûlée, exotic spices, aged woods, roasted coffee, rare florals and balsamic depth.

The sweetness is immense — 430 g/L — yet the wine feels alive, lifted, and eternal. This is not merely a wine, but a liquid monument, to be savoured in silence.

100 Points – Robert Parker (Luis Gutiérrez)
"Moscatel Toneles has reached mythical status. An exceptional wine that shows what aged Moscatel can achieve. The piercing acidity, creamy texture and never-ending finish are only part of its magic. With 430 g/l of residual sugar, it is indestructible."

Suggested Pairings

• Tarte Tatin or fig tart

• Intense blue cheeses (Roquefort, Stilton)

• Foie gras

• Dark chocolate and caramel-based desserts

• As a meditation wine — alone, for unforgettable moments