Blandy’s 10year Bual 50cl

A medium sweet style of Madeira produced from the bual grape which is famous for its distinctive flavours of figs, prunes and nutty earthiness. The blend is aged in canteiro for an average of 10 years to ensure an intense and persistent finish.

Madeira, Portugal. 

NV 

19%

50cl 

MORE INFORMATION

Producer 

The Blandy’s are unique in being the only family of all the original founders of the Madeira wine trade to still own and manage their own original wine company, maintaining a tradition that goes back to 1811.

Viticulture 

The family works with 29 Boal (or Bual) farmers predominately from the south coast of the island between Ribeira Brava and Calheta. Relatively easy to grown and quite vigorous, the berry benefits from the long hours of sunlight found in this region of the island. Also known in Portugal as “Malvasia Fina”, this varietal is picked relatively early on during harvest and produces a medium rich style of wine.

Winemaking

Blandy’s 10 year old Bual undergoes pelicular maceration followed by fermentation with natural yeast at temperatures between 18°C – 21°C in temperature controlled tanks. After approximately 3 days, fortification with vinic alcohol takes place, arresting fermentation at the desired degree of sweetness. Blandy’s 10 year old Bual a blend of wines with an average of 10 years in seasoned American oak casks. The wines were aged at the family’s Lodge in Funchal in the traditional ‘Canteiro’ system, whereby the wine is gradually transferred from the higher floors where the temperatures are higher, to the middle floors and eventually to the ground floor where temperatures are cooler. The process of transferring the barrels is absolutely critical to ensure the right balance of ullage and concentration. All through the ageing process, the primary fruit flavours of the wine are gently transformed into tertiary dried fruit notes that produce unique Madeira hallmark bouquet. This wine was regularly racked during this ageing process and was fined before bottling.

Taste 

“Packed with aromas of raisins, butterscotch and vanilla. Mouth-filling concentrated flavours of maple syrup, figs, caramel and sugared walnuts. Sweet but with a streak of acid verve. Beautifully balanced with an endless finish and lovely complexity” (IWSC)

The non-vintage 10-Year-Old Bual has an elegant bouquet with notes of Seville orange marmalade, quince, beeswax, dried orange peel and cardamom. The palate is very well-balanced with subtle marmalade and spice notes on the entry. (erobertparker)