Justinos Sercial 10 Years

Justino's Madeira, founded in 1870, is among the oldest producers on the Atlantic island of Madeira and holds one of its largest stocks of aged wine. This bottling is made from Sercial, the driest of Madeira's noble grapes, grown high on the island's steep volcanic terraces where cool conditions preserve sharp natural acidity. After fermentation is arrested by fortification to keep the wine dry, it undergoes the slow ageing that defines all Madeira: years of gentle, controlled warming that caramelise and concentrate the wine and build its distinctive cooked, nutty character, while Sercial's high acidity keeps everything taut. The ten-year age statement reflects the average age of the blend. Of the island's grapes Sercial gives the leanest, most bracing style, closer in spirit to a dry Fino than to the richer Madeiras. It pours amber, with delicate aromas of ripe fruit, nuts and lemon zest. The palate is dry, complex and persistent, the nutty depth offset by a vibrant, almost saline acidity that drives a long clean finish. Serve lightly chilled in a small glass as an aperitif, or with consommé, smoked fish and lighter savoury dishes.