NV Broadbent - Madeira Boal 10 yr

Bartholomew Broadbent founded Broadbent Selections in 1996, following in the footsteps of his father, the celebrated wine critic Michael Broadbent, who called Madeira his desert island wine. The younger Broadbent had spent a decade running Premium Port Wines for the Symington family before striking out on his own, sourcing barrels of Madeira dating back to 1933 for his debut releases. His Madeira wines are produced in partnership with Justino's, one of the island's largest and most established houses, which handles the actual winemaking on Broadbent's behalf. The label has since built a reputation for reintroducing this once-forgotten style to American drinkers.

The Boal grapes behind this bottling are grown on Madeira's warmer, lower-lying slopes, suited to the variety's naturally generous ripeness. After fermentation is stopped partway through with grape spirit to retain sweetness, the wine ages for a decade using the canteiro method, resting in casks across the upper, ground, and cellar levels of the aging lodge so that warm air rising through the building slowly cooks and deepens the wine over time.

Deep amber in the glass, this Boal offers aromas of dried fig, raisin, and toasted almond, with hints of honey and vanilla. The palate is medium sweet, full and fleshy, with lively acidity keeping the richness in check through a long, warming finish of toffee and baking spice. It pairs beautifully with crème brûlée or other custard-based desserts, and also holds its own alongside a strong blue cheese.