NV Rare Wine Co. (Vinhos Barbeito) Madeira Historic Series Charleston Sercial Special Reserve

Community Tasting Notes (84) Avg Score: 91.0 points

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  4/14/2024 - AD_jutant Likes this wine: 92 Points

  This is the first dry Madeira I am trying.
  The nose is just spectacular: caramel and sea salt, maybe dark chocolate, light-roast coffee, and petrichor. There are also spices and it makes me think of rye whiskey. Walnut and dried figs. I freaking love this.
  High acid of course and high alcohol does show. The mouth is less attractive than the nose. But still: spring water, wood, cold-brew coffee, and acorns (???). Dark chocolate and dry caramel on the finish.
  Nice and long finish.
  Man, I just dig this.
  10/18

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  3/9/2024 - tcarter wrote: 89 Points

  Light, not terribly layered or complex. Felt like a watered down version of what sercial should be—not literally but just not as interesting as I’d hoped.

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  1/7/2023 - Burgundy Al wrote:

  Toasted almonds with dried figs, just seemingly less depth or intensity than previous bottles. Popped-and-poured, this was 87 points tonight, I will see how the bottle evolves over the coming weeks.

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  12/5/2021 - N777 Likes this wine:

  Opened yesterday and stored corked in the fridge.
  
  Appearance: medium brown colored with some orange. No sediment
  
  Nose: medium-intense aromas of caramel and brown sugar with hints of orange. Definitely some charred wood with some coconut oak aromas
  
  Palate: medium/medium(+) bodied, medium(+)/high acid, medium sweet, slightly creamy texture, no tannins/phenolics. Medium/medium(+) flavors of caramel, brown sugar, and hazelnuts with notes of candied orange. Well balanced and medium/medium(+) complexity. A medium(+) length caramel and toasted nut finish.
  
  A refreshing and enjoyable Madeira! Flavors of caramel and nuts with notes of orange and a relatively lighter structure. No numerical rating from me because I do not have much experience with this style of wine

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  11/7/2021 - Everything Ahead wrote: 89 Points

  I enjoy Madeira certain times of the year, mainly when it gets colder in autumn, as the scents and flavors of the wine seem "autumnal" to me, and pair well with foods from this time of year (chestnuts, game birds, mushrooms etc.)
  I hadn't tasted one of these Rare Wine Co blends in a few years, so I snatched one up on a recent wine-shop excursion.
  The nose is classic Madeira scents of honey, toffee, nuts, sea air, and the palate features a mouthwatering acidity, but not quite as much depth as I had hoped for. This is surprisingly dry; a Madeira best had with food (cheese, fruit and nuts in our case). Perhaps revisiting the open bottle in the weeks/months to come will show some evolution. But an enjoyable sip nonetheless.

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