2015 Barbeito Sercial Colheita Madeira 50 cl dry
€ 51.80 / 50 cl
| Producer | Barbeito |
| Region | Madeira |
| Grapes | Sercial |
| Ageing | Colheita (single harvest) |
| Alcohol | 19.37%vol | pH: 3.4 |
| Serving | 14-16°C, open a few hours in advance Store upright, keeps almost indefinitely once opened |
A 2015 Sercial Colheita in 50 cl: exotic woods and crisp acidity.
Tasting note
Bright amber. Notes of exotic woods and light smoke, with aromas of dried nuts and figs. Fleshy and extremely smooth, with impressive freshness on the finish thanks to beautiful, crisp acidity.
The story
Sercial is the white grape behind the driest style of Madeira: the spirit is only added at the end of fermentation, when almost all the sugar has fermented. Its very high acidity when young earned this late-ripening grape the name Esgana Cão (dog strangler), and it is why Sercial usually ages for a long time. It grows in the highest vineyards in the south, at around 600-800 m, or in the cooler north. Sercial is somewhat reminiscent of Riesling.
A 50 cl bottle.
Madeira spends years ageing in an oxidative environment and moves into a reductive one at bottling. It is therefore best to open the bottle a few hours in advance. After that, air no longer affects the wine: an open bottle keeps almost indefinitely and often tastes even better months later. Always store Madeira upright, as the acidity attacks the cork if the bottle lies down.
Food pairing
Lightly chilled as an aperitif with olives and almonds, or with sushi, oysters, squid carpaccio with tomato-coriander vinaigrette, salmon tartare, prosciutto, crab and fresh tuna (sashimi).