Blandys 10 Year Old Sercial Madeira (Dry) N.V.  £24.95

Blandys 10 Year Old Sercial Madeira (Dry) N.V.

The Blandy’s are unique in being the only family of all the original founders of the Madeira wine trade to still own and manage their own original wine company, maintaining a tradition that goes back to 1811.

Sercial probably originates from Bucelas near Lisboa, where it was traditionally grown under the name Esgana Cao, which literally means dog strangler, hinting at the fierce acidity of the wines. The family work with 30 Sercial farmers who account for the majority of the fruit grown on the island. Found either at 600 metres above sea level on the south of the island at Jardim da Serra, or at sea level on the north at Sexial and Porto Moniz.

Blandy's 10-year old Sercial undergoes pellicular maceration followed by fermentation with natural yeast at temperatures between 18°C - 21°C in temperature-controlled tanks. After approximately 7 days, fortification with vinic alcohol takes place, arresting fermentation at the desired degree of sweetness.

Blandy’s 10 years old Sercial is a blend of wines with an average of 10 years in seasoned American oak casks. The wines were aged at the family’s Lodge in Funchal in the traditional ‘Canteiro’ system, whereby the wine is gradually transferred from the higher floors where the temperatures are higher, to the middle floors and eventually to the ground floor where temperatures are cooler. The process of transferring the barrels is absolutely critical to ensure the right balance of ullage and concentration. All through the ageing process, the primary fruit flavours of the wine are gently transformed into tertiary dried fruit notes that produce unique Madeira hallmark bouquet. This wine was regularly racked during this ageing process and was fined before bottling.

Dry, bitter almonds. Lovely balancing acidity and hazelnuts on the finish, which is long and satisfying.