Blandy’s Madeira – Duke Of Clarence 75 cl. 19%

Duke of Clarence from Blandy’s is a 3-year-old, sweet Madeira. It is made from the tinta negra grape, which is fermented in steel tanks with natural yeast together with the grape skins. Before the wine is fermented completely dry, it is fortified with grape spirit. This stops the fermentation and the wine thus retains approximately 120 grams of residual sugar (per litre), which gives a delicious sweetness. The wine is then transferred to Madeira’s special estufagem tanks, where it is heated to between 45 and 50 degrees for a period of three months, which helps to give the special taste. After that it is stored in wooden barrels. It is a long and complicated process, but there is no way around it if it tastes right!
Duke of Clarence is a British noble title, and one of the most famous with this title was George Plantagenet, who, according to the rumor, was drowned in a cask of Malmsey Madeira in 1478.

Colour: Deep golden brown.
Scent: Charming scent of honey and raisins.
Tasting notes: Big, full and sweet in taste, with notes of prune, raisin and honey.

Serving suggestion: Serve it chilled. Ideal for desserts with chocolate, nuts and the like. Keeps well for a few months after opening if kept cool.

Whether you’re after a good but affordable bottle or a fancy frasquira from your birth year, Blandy’s is the absolute best bet. It is, quite simply, the island’s top producer!

Decanter
“The best-selling brand of madeira, much improved of late, made from Tinta Negra and subject to estufagem for three months then aged for up to three years in old oak: red-mahogany in color with lovely fruit cake aromas and straight forward raisiny fruit, its soft richness offset by a fresh acidity that prevents the finish from cloying. A good pick-me-up at any time of day, especially with a slice of fruit cake or a treacle tart.” – 89 points