Barbeito rainwater Verdelho & Sercial
€ 50.84
| Producer | Barbeito |
| Region | Madeira |
| Grapes | Verdelho 85%, Sercial 15% |
| Ageing | Verdelho 2014 in a 2,800 l cask, Sercial 2017 in a 620 l cask |
| Alcohol | 19%vol |
| Serving | 10-12°C, open a few hours in advance Store upright, keeps almost indefinitely once opened |
A rare Rainwater of Verdelho and Sercial: refined, fresh and medium dry.
Tasting note
Greenish gold. Very elegant on the nose, with fresh, subtle aromas of ripe apricot and a little hay. Delicate and very refined on the palate, with perfect acidity and flavours of yellow plum. Finesse in a fresh, lingering finish. A rare and unique medium-dry Madeira.
The story
In the 19th century and the first quarter of the 20th, Rainwater was the most prestigious Madeira style in the United States. Verdelho used to be its main grape. This wine uses 85% Verdelho from 2014: 2,500 litres aged in a 2,800-litre cask, for very slow oxidation. To this was added 15% Sercial from 2017, aged in a 620-litre cask.
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 mayonnaise-based bites, game and fish mousse. Also very good with creamy starters, fish dishes and Indian food, smoked salmon, sushi, caviar, tuna, light soups, salads, ham and dried fruit such as almonds and walnuts.
The producer
Barbeito is one of the most forward-thinking houses on Madeira, and also one of the youngest: it was founded in the 1940s by Mário Barbeito. After his death in 1985 his daughter Manuela de Freitas took over the business. Her sons Ricardo and Miguel joined in 1991. Ricardo Diogo runs the house today.