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

H.M. Borges was founded in 1877 by Henrique Menezes Borges and remains under the stewardship of his family today, now in its fourth generation. It has stayed one of the smallest Madeira houses on the island, sourcing grapes from growers across Madeira while keeping vinification and maturation centered in Funchal, following methods largely unchanged since the company's earliest days.

This wine is made entirely from Malvasia, the grape behind Madeira's richest style, blended from multiple harvest years to reach an average age of ten years. The grapes are fermented with skin contact under careful temperature control before the wine moves into cask for extended aging, a process that builds the layered, oxidative character Malvasia is known for.

The finished wine shows a topaz, brownish hue with warm reflections in the glass. Its aroma is exotic and inviting, with wood, caramel, and toasted almond joined by notes of tobacco and dried fruit. On the palate it is sweet yet elegant, well balanced between acidity and body, with soft tannins and flavors of chocolate, vanilla, and orange peel carrying through a harmonious finish. It makes a lovely digestif on its own, or paired with chocolate-covered orange or a slice of aged cheese.