Definition

Noun: A type of sherry (a fortified wine) from Spain. It is characteristically pale in color and medium-dry in taste, meaning it is not very sweet but not completely dry either. Amontillado is a specific style that begins its aging process under a layer of yeast (like a Fino sherry) but then continues to age exposed to oxygen, which gives it a unique, nutty flavor and an amber color.

Usage

Amontillado is used as a countable noun (an amontillado, two amontillados) to refer to a bottle or type of this wine, or as an uncountable noun to refer to the wine as a substance. - It is typically served slightly chilled as an aperitif (before a meal) or can accompany food like nuts, cheese, or soups.

Examples

• Noun:
  • He ordered a glass of amontillado before dinner.
  • This amontillado has a wonderfully complex, nutty aroma.
  • We compared two different amontillados from Jerez.

Advanced Usage

• "An amontillado sherry": This phrase is sometimes used for clarity, though "amontillado" alone implies it is a sherry.
  • The menu featured an excellent amontillado sherry from a small bodega.

Variants and Related Words

• Sherry (n): The broader category of fortified wine from Spain to which amontillado belongs. Other styles include Fino (very dry, light), Oloroso (darker, richer), and Pedro Ximénez (very sweet).
• Fortified wine (n): Wine to which a distilled spirit (usually brandy) has been added, increasing its alcohol content and stability. Port and Madeira are other examples.

Synonyms

• Medium-dry sherry: A descriptive synonym.
• Aperitif wine: A functional synonym describing its common use.

Related Phrases/Idioms

• While there are no common phrasal verbs or idioms with "amontillado," it is famously featured in Edgar Allan Poe's short story where it serves as a central plot device. In this context, the word is associated with themes of deception and revenge.
  • The narrator lures his victim with the promise of tasting a rare pipe of Amontillado.

Noun

1. pale medium-dry sherry from Spain