Malmsey 10-year-old, Broadbent Selection

Broadbent Selections

Imported from Madeira, a volcanic island 400 miles off the North African coast, Broadbent Madeira is the product of Michael and Bartholomew Broadbent, both world renowned Madeira experts.

The wines were hand-selected on the island by Michael Broadbent, Chairman of Christie's International Wine Department and the world's most experienced taster of Madeira. Bartholomew Broadbent is deemed one of the world's foremost authorities on Port and Madeira, and is credited with spearheading the revival of Madeira in America.

Broadbent's 5 year old Reserve  Madeiras are all made from a grape variety called Tinta Negra Mole. It has been popular practice for some Madeira shippers to downplay the quality of Tinta Negra Mole. In the course of his research, however, Michael Broadbent found the quality of wine produced by Tinta Negra Mole to be as high as that of the classic grapes.

Malvasia Malmsey

Malvasia (aka Malmsey) is a white grape variety and a corresponding style of Madeira wine, one of the four recognised styles of this fortified wine (the others being the dry Sercial, the medium-dry Verdelho, and the medium-sweet Bual and Terrantez.

Malvasia Malmsey is the most famous and also the richest, sweetest wine style of Madeira, with upward of four percent residual sugar. Sercial, the driest style, contains up to 1.5 percent residual sugar, Verdelho up to 2.5 percent residual sugar, and Bual and Terrantez 3.5 percent maximum, albeit balanced by sharp acidity.

A young Malmsey Madeira is light-golden in colour, smooth and luscious on the palate, with deep-set chocolate flavours, and a hint of tropical, mango or nectarine notes.

An old Malmsey (ie 30 years) is just a little lighter in colour than a Bual. The palate typically delivers toffee nuts and marmalade sweetness. Old Malmseys resemble Tawny Ports, often showing even more lush character and concentration, depending on cask-ageing.

Malvasia (Malmsey)

Malvasia is a catch-all for a family of ancient Mediterranean grapes known as Malvasia, Malvoisie or Malmsey; their origins lie in Asia Minor and their relevance in decline.

Malvasia is responsible for producing a range of wines styles and colours; red and white, dry, sweet and sparkling. Perhaps better known for its ameliorative effect on Tuscan Vin Santo, providing honeyed smoky fruit intensity, while in Portugal& Madeira it reveals itself as Boal (Malvasia Fina) & Malmsey (Malvasia Candida) in the production of fortified wines.

Massimo Romeo is  a source of top-class Vin Santo di Montepulciano, while Barbeito is famed for its Malmsey Madeira.