Madeira Blandy Malmsey 20 years sweet
€ 70.85 / 50 cl
| Producer | Blandy's |
| Region | Madeira |
| Grapes | Malvasia (Malmsey) |
| Ageing | An average of 20 years in oak casks (canteiro) |
| Alcohol | 20%vol | pH: 3.38 |
| Serving | 16°C, decant if there is sediment Keeps for a few months once opened |
| Scores | 96/100 Decanter World Wine Awards 92/100 Wine & Spirits 92/100 Wine Enthusiast 18,5/20 Grandes Escolhas |
Twenty years of patience in the glass: fruitcake, honey and old cognac.
Tasting note
Bright, brilliant dark mahogany with golden hues. A complex bouquet of rich fruitcake, honey, brown sugar, spice and nuts. Sweet and rich yet fresh on the palate, with a long, warm finish of old cognac, dark chocolate and nuts.
The story
A blend of Malmsey wines from eight vintages, aged for an average of 20 years in oak casks using the canteiro method in the centuries-old Blandy’s Wine Lodge.
On Madeira, Malvasia grows on deep, fine-textured cambisol soils typical of the south of the island. It is also found in São Jorge (Santana) on the north coast, where Blandy’s has its Quinta do Bispo vineyards. Over the past 40 years the grape has thrived there, in a cooler climate shaped by the mountains and strong Atlantic winds.
Food pairing
As a dessert wine with dried fruit, chocolate mousse or dark chocolate, pralines and cream puffs. Also lovely as an aperitif, at 10°C.
The producer
Blandy’s is the only one of the founding families of the Madeira wine trade that still owns and runs its original wine company. The family still lives on the island and has played a leading role in the development of Madeira wine, a tradition going back to 1811: two centuries and seven generations. The house is led by Chris Blandy, the seventh generation.
Critics & Awards
96/100 Decanter World Wine Awards
18,5/20 Grandes Escolhas
92/100 Wine & Spirits | Tasted: Oct 2021
92/100 Wine Enthusiast | Tasted: Dec 2021
Roger Voss finds it rich in toffee, old wood and spice: intense and concentrated, caught at a perfect moment and ready to drink now.
Roger Voss finds it rich in toffee, old wood and spice: intense and concentrated, caught at a perfect moment and ready to drink now.