NV Broadbent - Madeira Sercial 10 yr

Bartholomew Broadbent launched Broadbent Selections in 1996, inspired by his father, wine critic Michael Broadbent, who once called Madeira his desert island wine and played a key role in sourcing the barrels and building the blends. After more than a decade spent reintroducing Madeira to American drinkers, Bartholomew set out to build a range that could compete with the finest examples on the island. His Madeira wines are made in partnership with Justino's, one of Madeira's largest producers, which handles the winemaking under the Broadbent name.

Sercial, the driest of Madeira's classic white varieties, is grown on the island's higher, cooler slopes in sites like Estreito de Câmara de Lobos, Seixal, and Porto Moniz. The grapes are harvested by hand, destemmed and pressed, then fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks for six to seven days before grape spirit is added to arrest fermentation. The wine ages for ten years using the traditional Canteiro system, in which ambient heat rising through the aging lodge slowly cooks the wine over time rather than through artificial heating.

The wine pours a bright amber color and offers aromas of dried earth, mineral, and roasted nuts, along with hints of dried dates and beeswax. High in acidity and bottled at nineteen percent alcohol, it stays crisp and racy on the palate despite its underlying richness, closing on a long, penetrating finish. It makes an excellent digestif and pairs well with Marcona almonds, olives, or a firm sheep's milk cheese.