Justinos Malvasia 10 Years

Justino's Madeira traces its roots to 1870 and holds the largest stocks of Madeira wine on the island. This 10 year bottling is made from Malvasia, the sweetest of Madeira's four noble varieties, grown on the steep volcanic soils of the Atlantic island. The wine is fortified during fermentation to retain natural sugar, then aged in oak casks where it matures slowly through gentle warming and oxidative contact with air, the canteiro process that defines Madeira and gives it near indestructible stability. Years of this slow estufagem develop the cooked, caramelised character that sets the style apart, with sugars and acids concentrating as the wine evaporates in cask. The colour is deep amber. The nose shows dark chocolate, caramel and toffee over dried fig and raisin. The palate is sweet, rich and complex in texture, balanced by Madeira's signature high acidity, which keeps the sweetness from cloying and carries a long, warming finish of orange marmalade and roasted nuts. Serve at 14 to 16 degrees in a small glass after dinner. It is a fine match for dark chocolate and rich cakes.