Terrantez Medium Dry Frasqueira (bottled 2014, 26yo) 1988

Bottled in 2014 at 26 years barrel aged, defining it as a Frasqueria (min. 20 years in barrel). Aged via the canteiro process, which stacks barrels in warehouses, where the wine is gently warmed to create madeira's distinct style. 100% Verdelho, with between 60-80g/L residual sugar. 

The rare Terrantez variety can be bottled as medium dry or medium sweet. This medium dry version is a remarkably complex, fascinating wine. Bitter medicinal herb aromatics with bracken, spiced wood, salted caramels, faded jar preserves, old straw and a touch of the maritime. The palate is sweet at first, with inseparable elements suggesting honey, brick, earth and wood. There's an incredibly layered juicy acidity, which carries sweetness akin to a memory of the skins of fruit that has given it up as a preserve. Gloriously gathered in the mouth, it is very complex yet deft, dancey, effortlessly balanced to off-dry.