2001 Malvasia Colheita Single Cask 727 d+e, Barbeito
This, the sweetest style of Madeira, was made from Malvasia grown in various vineyards surrounding São Jorge. Ricardo places such strong emphasis on the role of acidity in his wines, providing a vibrant balancing cut to the rich sweet character – “an acidity that is almost hidden when you drink it but then slowly emerges, almost like magic, and keeps growing and just lingers in the mouth.” This wine, cask 727, began aging at the Afonso (d) warehouse and since 2008 has been aging in Barbeito’s new winery (warehouse e), before bottling in September 2011. Only 978 half-litre bottles produced
Sweet, not remotely cloying, and super fresh in style. Notes of barley sugar, piquant, candied fruit, toffee and fruit cake on the palate, with a clean-cut finish. Rich and scintillating!
Try with hot sponges (treacle, lemon, orange), Christmas cake, crème caramel or crème brûlée, and cheese board (goats’, blue & hard).