Barbeito 3 Years Medium Sweet

Barbeito 3 Years Medium Sweet is a fortified Madeira made by Vinhos Barbeito, a family winery founded in 1964 and run since 1993 by winemaker Ricardo Freitas. It is a single-variety wine from Tinta Negra, the most widely planted grape on Madeira, grown on the steep volcanic slopes of the Atlantic island. The maritime climate and basaltic soils give bright acidity that survives the island's defining process: estufagem, in which the fortified wine is warmed and held at temperature for an extended period, then matured for three years in oak. This deliberate heating caramelises sugars and develops the cooked, nutty character unique to Madeira, while the high acidity keeps the wine fresh rather than cloying. The colour is deep chocolate brown. The nose shows raisins, hazelnuts, molasses and caramel. The palate is smooth, complete and well textured, medium sweet but lifted by the grape's natural acidity, finishing long and warm. Serve lightly chilled at 13 to 15C in a small glass. It suits caramel and coffee puddings, fruit cake and a board of nutty hard cheeses.