Barbeito Malvasia Cândida Reserva Especial

Barbeito is one of Madeira's most respected houses, and this Reserva Especial is made from Malvasia, the grape known as Malmsey and the sweetest of the island's noble varieties. Madeira is a fortified wine, and its character comes from a heating and oxidative ageing process unique to the island. Grape spirit is added to stop fermentation while sugar remains, then the wine is aged for years in cask under warmth, where slow, deliberate exposure to heat and air converts part of the alcohol to compounds that give the roasted, nutty, caramelised profile. This controlled oxidation also makes the wine extremely stable once opened. Sub-tropical volcanic soils and a humid maritime climate give grapes with the high natural acidity that keeps a sweet Madeira balanced rather than cloying. The colour is deep amber to mahogany. The nose is rich with caramel, toffee, raisin, dried fig and coffee. The palate is sweet and unctuous, thick with dark dried fruit and walnut, yet cut clean by a bright, tangy acidity into a very long finish. Serve at 14 to 16 degrees in a small glass.