Sercial Dry Frasqueira (bottled 2013, 24yo) 1989

Bottled in 2013 at 24 years barrel aged. Aged via the canteiro process, which stacks barrels in warehouses, where the wine is gently warmed to create madeira's distinct style. 100% Sercial, with between 20-60g/L residual sugar. 

More time in wood equals more complex wood-and-balsam volatile secondary beauty. The fruit characters are raisined, dried, preserved and citric all at once, wandering through a sky-wide nose of fine aromatic timber, grilled bread and nuts. Dry Sercial's vegetality is largely subsumed by fine old wood perfume. It's complex as all get-out, but with great harmony and composure. Dry and saline in the mouth, it's almost austere but with a nice textural generosity through the palate, marked by complex herbal-woodiness and juicy palate acidity.