Barbeito Verdelho Reserva 10 years old Madeira / Madeirense DOC

Rich burnished gold. A little rotted orange note of oxidation of this ripe fruit, with a hint of barley sugar and little floral and exotic fruit notes, as well as a delicate spiciness. On the palate the immediate impression is dry, with a lushness to the texture and a building sweetness through the mid-palate. There is a welterweight of acidity here again, but the creamy, toffeed character balances, and this stays quite rich but very well defined through its acid structure into a long, tangy finish that leaves a real impression in the mouth. (Tom Cannavan, Jan. 2007)