So one of my reasons for buying this bottle was to test if Barbeito can make a better 10-yr-old than Henriques can make a 15-yr-old, given that they are about the same price - though the H15 usually comes in 50cl bottles, so the price equivalence is per cl. In general Barbeito does have a higher reputation than Henriques, but is it worth that much?
But what I have to hand to taste it against is Henriques 20-yr-old, which is quite a lot more expensive. And I did think it quite a lot better than their 15-yr-old. Average CT scores only differ by 1, but when you put them side by side, that's nowhere near enough.
In comparing the B10 to the H20, we see that the B is a richer, sweeter wine, but the H has a much greater intensity of flavour, and higher acidity. However we also detect a bit of an ugh factor with the H. The B has a more pleasant and enjoyable flavour, even if it is simpler and less intense. I also felt that the B succeeded in having a distinctive verdelho character, which I did not feel that was always achieved with other madeiras of similar age. As others have noted, the B10 is a relatively sweet and dark wine for a 10-yr verdelho. Though I have also had Justino 10-yr verdelho, which is similarly sweet. Justino is a cheaper label owned by Henriques, and in another big step in terms of quality and price. So I don't find it out of the range of verdelhos I have had in terms of its sweetness.
Although I haven't got the H 15 to hand to compare directly, given that I have compared the H 15 to the H20 and found the H20 much better, I think I have to conclude that I would markedly prefer the B 10 to it. So B seem to be able to do a much better job than H in making a wine of a given age indication. But additional age is likely to deliver intensity and complexity of flavour, but that more intense and complex flavour is not always quite as pleasant and enjoyable as it might be.
I might invest a little more money in Barbeito, when some of their more interesting bottles become available.
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Nutty, orange nose and simply delicious on the palate. So much flavor in a tiny sip. Full bodied, just a touch of sweetness and a great structural acidity that hangs on for quite awhile. Loved it
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On the palate the wine is medium-sweet, with high acidity, high alcohol and a medium(+) body. The intensity of flavours is medium(+), flavours mirror the nose and again include dried apple, dried peach, almond, walnut, coffee, toffee, caramel and chocolate. The wine has a smooth and oily texture, the alcohol is very-well integrated, the finish is long.
This is an outstanding quality wine since it has very good complexity on the nose and palate, very good balance of sweetness an acidity, good balance of fruit and acidity, very good integration of the alcohol, and a long finish.
The wine has been matured in oxidative and warm conditions. Thanks to this maturation and to his high acidity and high alcohol it will keep on this level for many years, but it will not improve, and is hence to be considered not suitable for further ageing in bottle.
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On the nose discreet rancio, mineral and toffee notes. Medium bodied, off-dry, showing a pleasant umami aspect with subtle mineral and toffee flavors. Firm and smooth acidic structure. Very poised and elegant. Yummy!
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Clear and bright, medium amber colour and presence of dense legs. The nose is clean and fully developed, showing medium+ intensity aromas of walnuts, prunes, varnish, cinnamon, dried figs and caramel. The wine is medrium-dry with a high lively acidity, high alcohol, medium body and medium+ intensity flavours of walnut, cinnamon, caramel and prunes. Medium+ finish.
It is a very good quality wine with a nice balance between acidity and alcohol, a decent finish and some complexity provided by ageing and oak, but not enough to be outstanding. Drink now, not suitable for ageing. The wine is already fully developed and will not improve in the bottle, but can be kept for many years.
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1/15/2023 - Echinosum Likes this wine: 91 Points
So one of my reasons for buying this bottle was to test if Barbeito can make a better 10-yr-old than Henriques can make a 15-yr-old, given that they are about the same price - though the H15 usually comes in 50cl bottles, so the price equivalence is per cl. In general Barbeito does have a higher reputation than Henriques, but is it worth that much?
But what I have to hand to taste it against is Henriques 20-yr-old, which is quite a lot more expensive. And I did think it quite a lot better than their 15-yr-old. Average CT scores only differ by 1, but when you put them side by side, that's nowhere near enough.
In comparing the B10 to the H20, we see that the B is a richer, sweeter wine, but the H has a much greater intensity of flavour, and higher acidity. However we also detect a bit of an ugh factor with the H. The B has a more pleasant and enjoyable flavour, even if it is simpler and less intense. I also felt that the B succeeded in having a distinctive verdelho character, which I did not feel that was always achieved with other madeiras of similar age. As others have noted, the B10 is a relatively sweet and dark wine for a 10-yr verdelho. Though I have also had Justino 10-yr verdelho, which is similarly sweet. Justino is a cheaper label owned by Henriques, and in another big step in terms of quality and price. So I don't find it out of the range of verdelhos I have had in terms of its sweetness.
Although I haven't got the H 15 to hand to compare directly, given that I have compared the H 15 to the H20 and found the H20 much better, I think I have to conclude that I would markedly prefer the B 10 to it. So B seem to be able to do a much better job than H in making a wine of a given age indication. But additional age is likely to deliver intensity and complexity of flavour, but that more intense and complex flavour is not always quite as pleasant and enjoyable as it might be.
I might invest a little more money in Barbeito, when some of their more interesting bottles become available.
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11/15/2022 - Tudz Drkl Likes this wine:
Nutty, orange nose and simply delicious on the palate. So much flavor in a tiny sip. Full bodied, just a touch of sweetness and a great structural acidity that hangs on for quite awhile. Loved it
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10/13/2021 - PSPatrick wrote: 91 Points
Tasting Training for WSET Level 4, Units D4 + D5 - Session 6 (Madeira, non-blind): Wine 5: The wine's colour is deep gold. The nose has medium intensity and offers aromas of dried apple, dried peach, almond, walnut, coffee, toffee, caramel and chocolate.
On the palate the wine is medium-sweet, with high acidity, high alcohol and a medium(+) body. The intensity of flavours is medium(+), flavours mirror the nose and again include dried apple, dried peach, almond, walnut, coffee, toffee, caramel and chocolate. The wine has a smooth and oily texture, the alcohol is very-well integrated, the finish is long.
This is an outstanding quality wine since it has very good complexity on the nose and palate, very good balance of sweetness an acidity, good balance of fruit and acidity, very good integration of the alcohol, and a long finish.
The wine has been matured in oxidative and warm conditions. Thanks to this maturation and to his high acidity and high alcohol it will keep on this level for many years, but it will not improve, and is hence to be considered not suitable for further ageing in bottle.
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5/23/2018 - Henman Likes this wine: 90 Points
On the nose discreet rancio, mineral and toffee notes. Medium bodied, off-dry, showing a pleasant umami aspect with subtle mineral and toffee flavors. Firm and smooth acidic structure. Very poised and elegant. Yummy!
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3/6/2017 - tendring wrote: 89 Points
Wine Education Service - Madeira (LSE): Brownish gold.
Vanilla oxidised nose, slightly rubbery.
Toffee, alcoholic taste, rich, off dry, loads of acidity to balance the sweetness.
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2/2/2016 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 87 Points
Madeira Pilgrimage; 2/1/2016-2/4/2016 (Madeira): Nutty and tropical. Bright and clean. Orange rind and sea salt. Honey and caramel. I love the zesty style.
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5/19/2015 - Eric wrote:
Yum. Savory umami. Beautiful weight to this. Exceptionally balanced.
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1/17/2014 - Man in Black wrote:
Clear and bright, medium amber colour and presence of dense legs. The nose is clean and fully developed, showing medium+ intensity aromas of walnuts, prunes, varnish, cinnamon, dried figs and caramel. The wine is medrium-dry with a high lively acidity, high alcohol, medium body and medium+ intensity flavours of walnut, cinnamon, caramel and prunes. Medium+ finish.
It is a very good quality wine with a nice balance between acidity and alcohol, a decent finish and some complexity provided by ageing and oak, but not enough to be outstanding. Drink now, not suitable for ageing. The wine is already fully developed and will not improve in the bottle, but can be kept for many years.
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