Blandy's 10 Years Old Verdelho Medium-dry - Blandy's Madeira

Blandy's 10 Years Old Verdelho Medium-dry - Blandy's Madeira shines in the glass with a warm amber-brown hue, luminous reflections, and dense viscosity. On the nose, it unfolds a complex aromatic profile of ripe apples, candied grapefruit, and gently flowing honey, accompanied by refined herbal spice and toasted nuts. On the palate, this Verdelho shows pronounced character, presence, and elegance.

The texture is silky yet precisely structured. Lively acidity carries the pronounced residual sweetness and creates impressive tension. Nutty notes, candied citrus fruits, and hints of dried apples unfold in layers. Subtle bitter nuances on the finish recall grapefruit peel and give the wine grip and length.

• Wine color: intense brown with golden reflections
• Aromas: apple, grapefruit, honey, herbal spice, nuts
• Taste: medium-dry, powerful, and multifaceted
• Grape variety: Verdelho, produced as a single-varietal wine
• Origin: Madeira, Portugal
• Alcohol content: 19.0% vol.
• Residual sugar: approx. 75 g/l
• Total acidity: approx. 6.5 g/l

The palate experiences a clearly defined progression in several phases. First, fresh citrus notes and a hint of green apple emerge, followed by an intensification of honey, nuts, and caramelized nuances. The long aftertaste features an interplay of sweetness, acidity, and a slightly salty sea breeze, typical of Madeira. The tannin structure is delicate and barely perceptible, yet it supports the fine bite on the finish.

1. Fresh opening with citrus and apple
2. Mid-palate with honey, nuts, and herbal spice
3. Long, tension-filled finish with a salty note

The Verdelho grape variety has a long tradition on Madeira. It produces aromatic, structured wines with pronounced acidity. In the style of this 10-year-old Verdelho, fruit, spice, and maturity come together. The medium-dry style complements the grape variety's invigorating character exceptionally well and gives the wine a clear, defined personality.

Production of Blandy's 10 Years Old Verdelho Medium-dry - Blandy's Madeira

The grapes for Blandy's 10 Years Old Verdelho Medium-dry - Blandy's Madeira come from selected sites on the island of Madeira. The subtropical climate brings warm days and cooler nights, giving the grapes intense aromas. The constant influence of the Atlantic moderates temperatures and provides the vines with consistency throughout the year.

The vineyards often rest on steep terraces extending across volcanic soils. These soils retain warmth and provide rich minerality. Verdelho shows particular expressiveness on this foundation, with pronounced acidity and clear fruit. Harvesting is carried out selectively so that only fully ripe, aromatic grapes reach the cellar.

After pressing, the must ferments under controlled conditions until the desired level of residual sweetness is reached. Fermentation is stopped by adding grape spirit, creating the typical style of a fortified wine. The long maturation phase then begins, shaping the wine's character in a decisive way.

The wine is traditionally matured using the Canteiro system. Under this method, it rests for years in wooden casks, often on different floors of the cellars. The casks are exposed to varying temperatures, which intensifies the maturation process. Slow oxidation shapes the nutty and caramelized aromas while preserving the acidity. The wine matures for an average of ten years before being bottled.

The Blandy's house style is expressed through precision and balance. Each cask component is carefully selected before the final blend is created. The aim is a Verdelho style that harmoniously combines freshness, sweetness, acidity, and oxidative maturation notes. Tradition, experience, and consistent quality work thus shape a Madeira with a distinct sense of origin.

Serving Recommendations for Blandy's 10 Years Old Verdelho Medium-dry - Blandy's Madeira

Blandy's 10 Years Old Verdelho Medium-dry - Blandy's Madeira displays remarkable versatility at the table. Its medium-dry character accompanies both savory and sweet dishes with expression and elegance.

• Light and delicate dishes such as fried fish, scallops, or tender poultry dishes
• Light yet hearty dishes such as veal ragout, poultry liver, or spicy terrines
• Desserts with citrus fruits, apple, nuts, or caramel
• Mature hard cheese, Manchego, Gruyère, or medium-mature Cheddar

As a food companion, this Verdelho is particularly well suited to multi-course menus in which the aromas build in intensity. It reveals its freshness with aromatic, spicy starters, while with intense cheese or nut-based desserts it emphasizes depth. It also offers an atmospheric finale when enjoyed on its own after a meal.

For convivial evenings with friends, this Madeira is excellent as a meditation wine. It accompanies evenings by the fireplace, special celebrations, birthdays, or festive dinners. As a gift for fortified wine connoisseurs, it leaves a lasting impression and serves as a charming ambassador for Madeira.

The ideal serving temperature is between 12 and 14 degrees Celsius. Served slightly cooler, it presents more pronounced freshness and firmer acidity. A few degrees warmer, it reveals greater richness, nuttiness, and honeyed sweetness. A slender white wine glass or a small port glass is particularly suitable, allowing the aromas to unfold in a concentrated manner.

An opened bottle retains its quality for an extended period when stored in a cool, dark place. Due to its prior oxidative maturation, the wine reacts much more calmly to contact with oxygen than classic still wines. Ideally, an unopened bottle should be stored upright in a dark place with a constant temperature.

With its balance of aromatic intensity, lively acidity, and sweet, smooth richness, this Verdelho delights discerning wine lovers. It tells the story of Madeira in the glass and accompanies culinary moments with a distinctive character.

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