A blend of 80% Tinta Negra 20% Verdelho Aged in French oak casks – 5 years.
This Barbeito wine is still Shipped by Sailboat from Madeira. Barbeito are one of the smallest producers of Madeira. However have an extraordinary reputation for quality.
In the glass: A pleasing golden colour fading into a translucent straw towards the rim.
On the nose: A wonderful aromatic wine with notes of orange blossom and dried apricots.
In the mouth: The wine has a fine balance between sugar and acidity with a mineral like sweetness on the finish.
I actually enjoy a glass or two before or after dinner with cheese. This Madeira keeps well for 3 or more weeks in the fridge without loss of bottle condition.
I enjoy this wine as I would drink a port – however when I’m looking for a cleaner dryer taste and not the rich sweet flavours of a port I choose, Rain water 5 yo.
Wine fact:
There are more than 30 Madeira wine varieties. However, the most commonly used today are the – Noble four – Sercial, Verdelho, Bual and Malvasia – They also have the age on the bottle 5, 10, and some vintaged for those of us lucky enough to find them..
When it comes to dry white wines, the Sercial grape variety is my choice for food anything, from oysters to Chinese dishes and a stand out with soft goat’s cheese.
If you have a 10yo or older Madeira – I chose to sip it from a brandy balloon like you would a good Cognac and enjoy this wine as an after dinner drink.
Michael Lillis
