Vinhos Barbeito was founded in 1946, at a time when the Madeira industry was in decline, and has since grown into one of the island's most respected producers.

Expert's Description

Barbeito Boal Reserva is a Fortified Wine from Madeira, Portugal, with an alcohol content of 19%. Mário Barbeito de Vasconcelos, a former accountant for rival house Borges, saw an opportunity amid the industry's decline and began buying substantial stocks of old vintages from important families. After his death in 1985, his daughter Manuela de Vasconcelos took over management, and under her leadership Barbeito became, in 1993, the first Madeira producer to voluntarily switch its entire production to bottle ageing - today the house is one of only eight remaining Madeira producers. The Boal grape gives a medium-sweet style, and the Reserva designation indicates an average ageing time of around 5 years.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Nuts, honey and a hint of orange peel on the nose.

Palate

Complex and slightly waxy on the palate with citrus-driven acidity and nutty notes.

Finish

The finish is long with a hint of almond.

Serving & Food Pairing

Serve at 14-16°C in a Madeira glass. Pairs well with blue cheese, walnuts or enjoyed on its own after the meal.

Specifications

Name: Boal Reserva
Producer/Winery: Barbeito
Region/Country: Madeira, Portugal
Age: 5 years
ABV: 19%
Size: 50 CL
Serving temperature: 14-16°C
Decanting recommended: No
Glass type: Madeira glass
EAN no.: 5601519222409

Flavour Profile

Complex · Nutty · Honey · Waxy

Did You Know?

Barbeito was the first Madeira producer to voluntarily switch its entire production to bottle ageing in 1993 instead of cask ageing, a step that has since become a key part of the house's identity as a quality-focused, innovative producer.

See our full range of Barbeito

Bual is Madeira's medium-sweet classic, and Blandy's 5-year-old release hits the fine balance between sweetness and spice.

Expert's Description

Blandys 5 år Bual Medium Rich Madeiravin is a Fortified Wine from Portugal made from Bual, bottled at 19% ABV.

The wine is aged for 5 years and has a sweet style, with enough sweetness to pair well with desserts without becoming overwhelming. Bual is grown lower on the island's slopes than Sercial, giving the grape more warmth and a richer, more honeyed character.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Caramelised fruit and nuts.

Palate

Sweet with a penetrating flavour of pecan pie and caramelised fruit.

Finish

Long with notes of nuts and light spice.

Serving & Food Pairing

Serve at 14-16°C in a small dessert wine glass. Pairs with desserts, nut cake and blue cheese.

Specifications

Name: Bual 5 Years
Producer/Winery: Blandy's
Region/Country: Madeira, Portugal
Grape Variety(ies): Bual
ABV: 19%
Size: 75 CL
Vegan: No
Serving Temperature: 14-16°C
Decanting Recommended: No
Glass Type: Dessert Wine Glass

Flavour Profile

Medium-Sweet · Nutty · Caramelised · Spicy

Did You Know?

Bual is typically grown lower on Madeira's slopes than Sercial and Verdelho, where the warmer climate gives the grape more sugar and a richer, more honeyed style.

See our full range of Blandy's

Malmsey is the sweetest of Madeira's classic styles, and Blandy's 5-year-old release is made for those who want a true dessert wine.

Expert's Description

Blandys 5 år Malmsey Rich Madeiravin is a Fortified Wine from Portugal made from Malmsey (Malvasia), bottled at 19% ABV.

The wine has been aged for 5 years in oak barrels, which supports its sweet, complex character. The Malmsey grape is also called Malvasia and gives Madeira's fullest, sweetest style, well suited to a classic dessert wine.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Caramel and ripe raisins.

Palate

Sweet and full with rich complexity.

Finish

Long and soft with a lingering sweetness.

Serving & Food Pairing

Serve at 14-16°C in a small dessert wine glass. Pairs well with, for example, a crème brûlée.

Specifications

Name: Malmsey 5 Years
Producer/Winery: Blandy's
Region/Country: Madeira, Portugal
Grape Variety(ies): Malmsey (Malvasia)
ABV: 19%
Size: 75 CL
Vegan: No
Serving Temperature: 14-16°C
Decanting Recommended: No
Glass Type: Dessert Wine Glass

Flavour Profile

Sweet · Full-bodied · Rich · Soft

Did You Know?

Malmsey is the sweetest of the four classic Madeira grapes and is often used as a designation for the fullest style, regardless of whether the wine is actually made from Malvasia or Tinta Negra in the same style.

See our full range of Blandy's

Sercial is the driest of Madeira's classic grape varieties, and Blandy's 5-year-old release shows the style's sharp, penetrating character.

Expert's Description

Blandys 5 år Sercial Dry Madeiravin is a Fortified Wine from Portugal made from Sercial, bottled at 19% ABV.

The wine is aged for 5 years and is a dry style of Madeira, with enough sweetness to pair well with tapas and hard cheeses. The Sercial grape is grown on the island's highest, coolest vineyards, giving it high acidity and a characteristic sharpness.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Sharp citrus and almond.

Palate

Dry with a penetrating flavour that can cut through even the strongest cheeses.

Finish

Long and dry with a clean, mineral close.

Serving & Food Pairing

Serve at 10-12°C in a small sherry glass. Pairs with tapas, hard cheeses and as an aperitif.

Specifications

Name: Sercial 5 Years
Producer/Winery: Blandy's
Region/Country: Madeira, Portugal
Grape Variety(ies): Sercial
ABV: 19%
Size: 75 CL
Vegan: No
Serving Temperature: 10-12°C
Decanting Recommended: No
Glass Type: Sherry Glass
EAN: 5010867600096

Flavour Profile

Dry · Sharp · Mineral · Fresh

Did You Know?

Sercial is the same grape as German Riesling, according to some historical theories brought to Madeira by German settlers - it is grown today on the island's highest and coolest vineyards.

See our full range of Blandy's

High under the sun-baked roof tiles of Blandys old wine lodge in Funchal, rows of casks rest and mature for years while the island heat does its slow work. This is where Duke of Sussex takes shape — a dry, nutty Madeira with roots stretching back to 1811.

Note: Contains sulphites.

Expert Description

Blandys Duke of Sussex Dry Madeira is a dry fortified wine from Madeira, Portugal, made from the Tinta Negra grape with an alcohol content of 19%.

Blandys has been making Madeira since 1811 and is the only one of the original founding families still both owning and actively running its own house, now in its seventh generation. Duke of Sussex belongs to the house's dry range, named after an English duke from an era when Madeira was a fixture at the British court and on ships crossing the Atlantic.

The wine is aged using the traditional canteiro method, where casks rest in the warm attics of the lodge and mature slowly over years rather than being artificially heated. That gives a more complex, elegant wine than the cheaper estufagem-aged Madeiras, even in this accessible, non-vintage bottling.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Light and fresh, with citrus, toasted almonds and hazelnuts, and a hint of salty minerality behind the classic Madeira bouquet of dried fruit and spice.

Palate

Dry and precise on the palate, with bright acidity keeping the wine fresh. The nutty character carries through from the nose, joined by hints of apricot and a touch of caramel, without ever tipping into sweetness.

Finish

A clean, faintly bitter-nutty finish with a tangy edge that makes the wine a natural aperitif.

Serving & Food Pairing

Serve Duke of Sussex chilled at 11-13°C in a small Madeira or sherry glass. It's built for the aperitif hour, but also works well with smoked fish, tapas and olives, and its dry style can easily stand up to a mild curry.

Specifications

Name: Blandys Duke of Sussex Dry Madeira
Producer/Winery: Blandys
Region/Country: Madeira, Portugal
Appellation/Classification: DOC Madeira
Grape Variety: Tinta Negra
Vintage: Non-vintage (NV)
ABV: 19%
Size: 75 CL
Oak Ageing: Canteiro method, oak casks
Serving Temperature: 11-13°C
Decanting Recommended: No
Glass Type: Madeira or sherry glass

Flavour Profile

Dry · Nutty · Mineral · Fresh · Elegant

Did You Know?

Blandys is the only one of the original families from the founding of the Madeira wine trade that still owns and runs its own house — now in the seventh generation of the same family.

Blandy's is one of the few houses with the right to use the term Rain Water - a style that makes Madeira more approachable without compromising on character.

Expert's Description

Blandys Fine Rain Water Medium Dry Madeiravin is a Fortified Wine from Portugal made from Tinta Negra, bottled at 18% ABV.

The wine is medium-dry and based on the Sercial style, making it more approachable than the fully dry Madeira types. Blandy's is one of the few houses with the right to use the name Rain Water, a term with roots dating back to the age of trading ships.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Fine exotic fruit.

Palate

Medium-dry with a fine acidity and a pleasant, balanced sweetness.

Finish

Medium length and clean.

Serving & Food Pairing

Serve at 12-14°C in a small dessert wine glass. Pairs with tapas, hard cheeses and light desserts.

Specifications

Name: Fine Rain Water
Producer/Winery: Blandy's
Region/Country: Madeira, Portugal
Grape Variety(ies): Tinta Negra
ABV: 18%
Size: 75 CL
Vegan: No
Serving Temperature: 12-14°C
Decanting Recommended: No
Glass Type: Dessert Wine Glass

Flavour Profile

Medium-Dry · Fresh · Exotic · Balanced

Did You Know?

The name Rain Water dates back to the 1800s, when barrels were reportedly diluted by rainwater during transport on the beach in Madeira - today it is a protected style designation for a light, approachable Madeira.

See our full range of Blandy's

Blandy's is among the most respected names in Madeira, and this 2010 Harvest Colheita made from the Malmsey grape shows why.

Expert's Description

Blandys Malmsey 2010 Harvest Colheita Madeiravin is a Fortified Wine from Portugal made from Malmsey (Malvasia), bottled at 19% ABV.

Malmsey is known as the sweetest and fullest of Madeira's classic grapes, giving the wine an intense, rich character. After the 2010 harvest, the wine underwent traditional Canteiro ageing, where the barrels are stored for several years in Madeira's warm climate, giving remarkable depth and complexity.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dried fruit, figs, dates and candied orange peel with hints of honey and spice.

Palate

Rich and full with notes of caramel, burnt sugar, dark chocolate, roasted nuts and ripe tropical fruit.

Finish

Long, silky and harmonious with a lingering sweetness and fresh acidity.

Serving & Food Pairing

Serve at 14-16°C in a small dessert wine glass. Ideal for the cheese board, chocolate or crème brûlée.

Specifications

Name: Malmsey 2010 Harvest
Producer/Winery: Blandy's
Region/Country: Madeira, Portugal
Grape Variety(ies): Malmsey (Malvasia)
Vintage: 2010
ABV: 19%
Size: 50 CL
Vegan: No
Serving Temperature: 14-16°C
Decanting Recommended: No
Glass Type: Dessert Wine Glass

Flavour Profile

Rich · Sweet · Complex · Tropical

Did You Know?

Canteiro ageing refers to the classic, slow ageing of Madeira in warm lofts, where the sun's natural heat over several years replaces the faster estufagem method used for younger Madeira.

See our full range of Blandy's

Ferraz makes Madeira in the classic Bual style - a medium-sweet fortified wine that lands in a pleasant spot between dry Sercial and sweet Malmsey.

Expert's Description

Ferraz Medium Rich Madeiravin is a Fortified Wine from Portugal made from Bual (Boal), bottled at 17.5% ABV.

Bual is known for a medium-sweet, honeyed style that sits between Madeira's driest and sweetest grape varieties. Ferraz makes this Medium Rich in an approachable style that shows the grape's characteristic depth without becoming overwhelmingly sweet.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dried fruits and a hint of oak.

Palate

Medium-sweet with dried fruit, spice and light oak.

Finish

Long with roasted coffee, salted caramel and ripe raisins.

Serving & Food Pairing

Serve at 18-20°C in a small dessert wine glass. Pairs with desserts, cakes and cheeses.

Specifications

Name: Medium Rich
Producer/Winery: Ferraz
Region/Country: Madeira, Portugal
Grape Variety(ies): Bual (Boal)
ABV: 17.5%
Size: 75 CL
Vegan: No
Serving Temperature: 18-20°C
Decanting Recommended: No
Glass Type: Dessert Wine Glass
EAN: 5010867900875

Flavour Profile

Medium-Sweet · Nutty · Spicy · Honeyed

Did You Know?

The Bual grape is also called Boal and gives one of Madeira's most characteristic styles, which with age develops notes of walnut and hazelnut alongside the classic honeyed sweetness.

See our full range of Ferraz

Miles is one of Madeira's smaller but respected houses, and this 1996 vintage is bottled after more than two decades of ageing.

Expert's Description

Miles Tinta Negra 1996 Rich Madeiravin is a Fortified Wine from Portugal made from Tinta Negra, bottled at 19% ABV.

The wine is vintage-dated 1996 and was bottled in 2017 after many years of ageing in oak. The Rich designation shows it is a sweet style, where the long ageing has given the wine a golden colour with mahogany tones and great complexity.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dried fruits, softened brandy, spices and balsamic.

Palate

Sweet, smooth and fresh with a full, long flavour.

Finish

Long finish of fruit, toasted wood and cane sugar molasses.

Serving & Food Pairing

Serve at 14-16°C in a small dessert wine glass. Pairs with dark chocolate, blue cheese and nut-based desserts.

Specifications

Name: Tinta Negra 1996 Rich
Producer/Winery: Miles
Region/Country: Madeira, Portugal
Grape Variety(ies): Tinta Negra
Vintage: 1996
ABV: 19%
Size: 75 CL
Vegan: No
Serving Temperature: 14-16°C
Decanting Recommended: No
Glass Type: Dessert Wine Glass

Flavour Profile

Sweet · Complex · Full-bodied · Spicy

Did You Know?

Tinta Negra is the most widely planted grape on Madeira and is used to mimic the styles of the four classic grape varieties Sercial, Verdelho, Bual and Malmsey, depending on how sweet the wine should be.

See our full range of Miles

Cossart Gordon is one of Madeira's oldest and most respected houses, and Vat 22 Full Rich is a sweet introduction to the island's famous fortified wine.

Expert's Description

Vat 22 Full Rich Cossart Gordon & Co Madeiravin is a Fortified Wine from Portugal made from Tinta Negra, bottled at 17.5% ABV.

The wine has an age of 3 years and is the house's approachable, sweet style - Full Rich denotes the sweetest category of Madeira. Cossart Gordon is among the oldest Madeira houses, having produced fortified wine on the island since the 1700s.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dried fruits, toffee and caramel.

Palate

Full-bodied and sweet with warm, ripe fruit notes and a long, soft finish.

Finish

Long with a hint of wood and a light chocolate note.

Serving & Food Pairing

Serve at 14-16°C in a small dessert wine glass. Pairs with caramel cake, blue cheese and Christmas sweets.

Specifications

Name: Vat 22 Full Rich
Producer/Winery: Cossart Gordon & Co
Region/Country: Madeira, Portugal
Grape Variety(ies): Tinta Negra
ABV: 17.5%
Size: 75 CL
Vegan: No
Serving Temperature: 14-16°C
Decanting Recommended: No
Glass Type: Dessert Wine Glass
EAN: 8710415912912

Flavour Profile

Sweet · Full-bodied · Rich · Warm

Did You Know?

Madeira is one of the world's longest-lasting wines because it is deliberately heated during production in a process called estufagem - a technique that originally arose because the wine had to survive long sea voyages in hot cargo holds.

See our full range of Cossart Gordon & Co