Rare Wine Company "Historic Series - Savannah" Verdelho Madeira

This smells like apricot tarte tatin with notes of toasted nuts and caramelized bananas. Very crisp and concentrated this has tremendous energy in spite of the intense maturation character, the touch of sweetness pushed way into the background. Super-long finish that’s both rich and refreshing. Drink or hold. (SP) (6/2023)

This incredible wine is composed of Verdelho and Tinta Negra Mole opens with a gorgeous bouquet of salted Marcona almond, roasted dates, toffee pudding and suggestions of baked apple, which all come together beautifully in the glass. The palate is viscous, showing a wonderful saline streak and yielding rich flavors of toffee, Marcona almond, Maraschino cherry, honey, molasses, and suggestions of baking spices. Overall this is an outstanding effort which should have an exceedingly long future. (OB) (11/2016)

This is probably the most “historic” of the series, as according to Mannie Berk, as the vast, vast majority of Madeira consumed here in the US in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries were Verdelhos. This wine offers up a really lovely and quite high-toned nose of orange peel, spice cake, woodsmoke, a lovely base of soil nuances and a nice dollop of herbal tones redolent of celery seed in the upper register. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, racy and very complex, with a lovely signature of soil, impeccable focus and balance and a very long, poised and tangy finish. This has around two percent of residual sugar to it, which is pretty much all eaten up by the fine acidity here, so that the overall impression is a well-buffered, but essentially dry wine. Impressive. (2/2014)

The NV Savannah Verdhelo Special Reserve (Rare Wine Company) is lovely, wafting from the glass with inviting aromas of fruitcake, warm spices, bitter orange, blanched almonds and dried flowers. Full-bodied, satiny and enveloping, with racy acids, a fleshy core of fruit, nicely integrated sweetness and an off-dry finish, it concludes with a penetrating and mouthwateringly saline finish. (WK) (10/2020)

Medium amber with a green rim. Aromas of burnt orange, tobacco, toffee and herbs, with a hint of potpourri adding an exotic component. Broader and deeper than the Charleston, offering sappy orange marmalade, chestnut honey and toffee flavors underscored by tangy acidity. Shows a sweet, nutty quality on the smoky, gently spicy finish. I like this wine's heft and thrust. (JR) (6/2011)

Offers a powerful aroma of marzipan and dried tropical fruits, with flavors to match. Shows muscular acidity and plenty of barbecue smoke notes. Vanilla and white chocolate details emerge on the grippy, complex finish, revealing buttery accents. (KM) (4/2016)

Deep greenish tawny. Complex nose that’s already pretty subtle. Treacly, greenish (veggy/leafy), rancio aromas. Rather light and delicate. Quite developed on the nose, although it’s still a little chewy on the finish. Real punch. 17.5/20 points (JR) (5/2010)

These are the most affordable, representative examples of classic Madeira available. A collaboration between the importer and Barbeito's Ricardo Diogo Vasconcelos Freitas, the idea behind these bottlings is to capture some of the magic of vintage Madeira: the beautiful aromas, intensity of flavor, and, most importantly, the acidity. Given the fact that 1.5-3 ounces is a sufficient pour and that, once opened, these simply will not go bad, these are among the best deals we have in the store for those looking for a truly unique addition to add to the cellar (as well as drinking rotation)! Savannah is the historical center of Madeira appreciation; in fact the Savannah Madeira Club is still an active organization that meets to regularly imbibe Madeira! Verdelho strikes a beautiful balance between acidity and residual sugar; it is the second driest grape and style of Madeira next to Sercial. Given its lightly sweet, yet refreshing fruit profile and comparably light touch, this Madeira would be lovely either before or after a meal. (Joe Manekin, K&L Portuguese Wine Buyer)