NV H.M. Borges - Madeira Bual 10 Year Old

H.M. Borges was founded in 1877 by Henrique Menezes Borges, a Funchal merchant who dedicated his life to selecting and aging the finest wines produced on Madeira. The house is now in the hands of the fourth generation, cousins Helena and Isabel Borges, who continue the family tradition from the same historic building in central Funchal where every stage of production takes place. Borges remains one of only a handful of independent bottlers still active on the island, working closely with a network of small growers it has partnered with across generations.

This Boal comes exclusively from grapes of that variety, harvested across different years and blended to an average age of ten years. Fermentation is carried out using the traditional open spout method with careful control of temperature, allowing the tannins from the grape skins to develop before fortification with grape spirit halts the process. The wine then ages in oak barrels, taking on color and depth through Madeira's characteristic slow, warm maturation.

The wine shows a bright amber color with brownish nuances, opening with exotic aromas of caramel and toasted almond layered with notes of tea and nuts. On the palate it is medium sweet, well balanced, with a long finish carrying hints of chocolate and dried fruit. It suits fresh tropical fruit, nut-based cakes, and soft, creamy cheeses, and also works beautifully with milk chocolate or the island's traditional honey cake.