Justino's - Madeira Verdelho - 10 years old - 19%
Justino's is located on the island of Madeira , Portugal . Founded in 1870, it is one of the oldest and most renowned wine companies in the region. In 2019, Justino's was acquired by Portuguese Madeira Wine Company, which also owns other renowned Madeira wine brands. Madeira wines from Justino's are available in a variety of styles, from driest and sweetest, to reserve wines and vintages. The company also has a large collection of rare and ancient wines, some dating back to the 18th century.
As a mountainous island, there are a variety of microclimates in Madeira. The mountains, reaching up to 1,800 meters, cause the humid air from the winds arriving from the northwest to cool and condense into rain clouds, which means that the north and center of the island are considerably cooler. and wetter than the south. Madeira has an area of around 74,000 hectares, of which only around 450 hectares are planted with vines. The soils are of volcanic origin and rich in nutrients. This, together with abundant rain, provides fertile conditions and therefore vigorous vines. The maturation process of modern Madeira wines replicates the hot, oxidative conditions the wine was subjected to when shipped in the 17th and early 18th centuries.
The Verdelho grape contains more residual sugar and therefore more structure and a rounder texture than Sercial. The slight sweetness in the mouth also gives the impression of sweeter flavors such as candied fruit. It should be noted that even wines labeled “dry” have some degree of sweetness. Age is an indication of style rather than a minimum or average.
Grape variety: 100% Verdelho