On Madeira's steep slopes, Tinta Negra grows on pergolas two metres above the ground. The wine then rests in old oak casks in rooms where the island's own warmth does the work. Ten years on average go into what ends up in the glass: a pale, dry Madeira with nuts, citrus and a fresh, long finish.
Expert Description
Miles Tinta Negra 10 Years Old Dry is a Fortified Wine from Madeira, Portugal, made from Tinta Negra with an alcohol content of 19%. It is non-vintage: a blend of five or six lots of wine, put together so the average age comes out at ten years.
Miles is one of Madeira's old names. The house traces its roots back to 1814, when it was called Rutherford & Grant, while the label says 1878. Today Miles belongs to Madeira Wine Company, the Blandy family's firm.
Tinta Negra arrived on the island in the 1700s and spread for real after the phylloxera outbreak of 1872. It is now the most planted grape on Madeira. According to the producer, the grapes for this wine come from Estreito de Câmara de Lobos on the south side and São Vicente in the north.
The wine ferments on the skins with natural yeast at 16-18 degrees in temperature-controlled steel tanks. After about eight days, grape spirit is added, which stops the fermentation. It then moves into old American oak casks and matures by the traditional canteiro method in Funchal. Seco means dry, but the producer states around 45 grams of residual sugar per litre, and the fresh acidity keeps it tasting dry. The bottle is filled when the wine is ready to drink.
Tasting Notes
Nose
Roasted cashews, caramel and orange peel against a woody backdrop. Nutty, but light with it.
Palate
Dry and fresh with citrus, dried fruit and a hint of toffee. Soft in the mouth, with peanut and vanilla in the background.
Finish
Long, nutty and fresh. The acidity keeps it going to the last sip.
Serving & Food Pairing
Serve it lightly chilled in a small wine glass. It does not need decanting. It is made as an aperitif, so bring it out before the food rather than after. Try it with salted nuts, sushi, fish or duck pie. The producer also points to heavily spiced meat and, quite unpretentiously, a burger. It also makes a good gift for a friend who loves a dry aperitif.
Specifications
Name: Miles Tinta Negra 10 Years Old Dry
Producer/Winery: Miles Madeira
Region/Country: Madeira, Portugal
Appellation/Classification: Madeira
Grape variety: Tinta Negra
Vintage: Non-vintage (NV)
ABV: 19%
Size: 75 CL
Oak-aged: Old American oak casks, canteiro method
Serving temperature: Lightly chilled
Decanting recommended: No
EAN no.: 5600455050039
Flavour Profile
Dry · Nutty · Fresh · Citrus · Lightly fruity
Did you know?
Tinta Negra is a red grape, but the wine in your glass is a pale topaz with a golden rim. So don't let the name of the grape fool you.
See our full range of Miles Madeira
