Vinhos Barbeito is one of the most outstanding producers on the island of Madeira. Wines designated Special Reserve are aged for a minimum of 10 years in cask, and are quite mellow and balanced. Savannah Verdelho shows a bouquet of orange zest and buttery shortbread with hints of ginger, milk chocolate, and almonds. Lightly sweet with zesty acidity to keep it fresh, the palate reveals notes of candied citrus, ginger, and spicy honey. The finish sharpens all of the above into a refreshing and palate cleansing blend of spiciness and citrus sweetness
Roquefort or other blue-veined cheeses, and shelled walnuts are wonderful with this wine.
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Fun to try a Madeira that isn’t a bookend Sercial or Malmsey. Verdelho should be on the “drier” side of the spectrum, but it’s all relative.
Generally, NV Madeira wines tend to a follow proprietary “house style,” just like ports - some producers are drier some richer/sweet. For me, anyway, Madeira wines are not like sherry producers, which make very light/bright Finos to ultra-sweet PX wines and everything in-between; a typical Madeira house has a more compressed profile.
This Verdelho is dark and rich in color and has a nose of dry treacle, walnuts, and honey. It also has a palate of dry treacle plus apricot, brown sugar, and acidity like roasted grapefruit with honey. Lots of wood spice too. A warm wine at 19.5% alcohol, but not hot. Good balance. A good sipping wine and works well with foods.
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(NV Rare Wine Co. (Vinhos Barbeito) Madeira Historic Series Savannah Verdelho Special Reserve) Medium dark orange color with ruby lights and 1 millimeter clear meniscus; very appealing, coffee, burnt almond, praline nose; very tasty, oily textured, tart orange, tart marmalade, light praline palate; long finish (good value at about $50)
(NV Rare Wine Co. (Vinhos Barbeito) Madeira Historic Series Savannah Verdelho Special Reserve) Medium brown color with ruby lights and light yellow meniscus; peanut, praline, lightly salty nose; tasty, silky textured, tart praline, peanut, pear, baked apple palate; long finish 91+ points (more complex and tasty than last year's version)
(NV Rare Wine Co. (Vinhos Barbeito) Madeira Historic Series Savannah Verdelho Special Reserve) Light medium coffee red color with pale yellow meniscus; light tobacco, earthy, treacle nose; very tart lemon, nutty palate with high orange acidity; long finish (bottled January 2010)
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12/10/2023 - Clemster wrote:
Vinhos Barbeito is one of the most outstanding producers on the island of Madeira. Wines designated Special Reserve are aged for a minimum of 10 years in cask, and are quite mellow and balanced. Savannah Verdelho shows a bouquet of orange zest and buttery shortbread with hints of ginger, milk chocolate, and almonds. Lightly sweet with zesty acidity to keep it fresh, the palate reveals notes of candied citrus, ginger, and spicy honey. The finish sharpens all of the above into a refreshing and palate cleansing blend of spiciness and citrus sweetness
Roquefort or other blue-veined cheeses, and shelled walnuts are wonderful with this wine.
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11/16/2023 - HeavyPourWine wrote: 89 Points
Chef's Tasting Menu with Wine Pairing - Atlas (Atlanta, GA): Dark amber color. Light alcohol smell. Ok pairing Chocolate dessert but not really my kinda thing. Brad - heavypourwine.com
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2/17/2023 - John Dunlap Likes this wine: 91 Points
Fun to try a Madeira that isn’t a bookend Sercial or Malmsey. Verdelho should be on the “drier” side of the spectrum, but it’s all relative.
Generally, NV Madeira wines tend to a follow proprietary “house style,” just like ports - some producers are drier some richer/sweet. For me, anyway, Madeira wines are not like sherry producers, which make very light/bright Finos to ultra-sweet PX wines and everything in-between; a typical Madeira house has a more compressed profile.
This Verdelho is dark and rich in color and has a nose of dry treacle, walnuts, and honey. It also has a palate of dry treacle plus apricot, brown sugar, and acidity like roasted grapefruit with honey. Lots of wood spice too. A warm wine at 19.5% alcohol, but not hot. Good balance. A good sipping wine and works well with foods.
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12/10/2022 - Burgundy Al wrote: 90 Points
These continue to be very consistent, with dried figs and dates, candied citrus peel and a broad array of toasted nuts. Bright, long finish.
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6/1/2022 - Burgundy Al wrote: 91 Points
Toasted almonds with candied orange peel, all in front of figs and dates. So tart and savory, just inviting food.
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