NV Blandy's - Madeira Bual 10 Year Old (750ml)

Blandy's stands apart as the only one of Madeira's founding families still owning and running its original wine company, a tradition that dates back to 1811 and now spans seven generations. The family has remained deeply involved in the island's development throughout that history, and members still live on Madeira, continuing a commitment that has outlasted every other founding house. Production and aging take place at the historic Blandy's Wine Lodge in Funchal, alongside a newer winery site the company built to handle grape processing.

Bual, also known as Malvasia Fina, grows best along Madeira's south coast between Ribeira Brava and Calheta, where it's picked relatively early to produce a medium-rich style. Fermentation runs for about three days before grape spirit is added to halt the process and preserve sweetness. The wine then ages for an average of ten years in seasoned American oak under the Canteiro system, gradually shifting from the lodge's warmer upper floors down to cooler ground-level rooms as it matures.

The wine shows a clear amber color with golden tinges at the rim and a complex bouquet of dried figs, prunes, and toasted almonds, layered with oak, toffee, and vanilla spice. On the palate it is medium sweet and smooth, balancing coffee and fruit flavors against clean, sharp acidity that carries into a long finish. It pairs beautifully with foie gras or aged gouda, and also complements dried fruit, fruitcake, or crème brûlée.