Winemaker Notes
This is a very old Madeira wine, classified as "Frasquiera" that was part of the wine collection of the family that own this wine company. It is made from boal, a noble grape variety in years when the quality is high and the harvest is excellent, using grapes from the best vines of Madeira Island. Prior to bottling, it benefited from a long aging period in old oak barrels at the temperature recommended, in the warehouses of this century-old company. To us it was able to develop into a characteristic Madeira Wine as a result of the grape variety it was produced from, with this quality of structure, aroma and full-bodied taste. Allow us to remind you that it is important to let the wine breathe for a while after it has been opened in order to develop the fullness of its aromas. If only part of the wine is consumed the remainder can be kept in the bottle for many years. It is possible that this wine will develop through this prior airing.
A steep, volcanic island in the Atlantic Ocean that rises to over 6,000 feet at its highest point, Madeira actually sits closer to Morocco than Portugal, the country to which it belongs.
Today the vineyards of the island cover tiny step-like terraces called poios, carved from the basalt bedrock. Aptly named Madeira, this fortified wine comes in two main styles. Blended Madeira is mostly inexpensive wine but there are a few remarkable aged styles. Single varietal Madeira (made from Sercial, Verdelho, Boal or Malmsey), is usually the highest quality and has the potential to improve in the bottle for decades.