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Blandy’s 30 Year Old Bual Madeira is a superb medium-rich style of Madeira, crafted from rare Bual grapes and aged for 30 years using the traditional canteiro method. This richly concentrated wine delivers layers of spiced citrus, dried fruits, nuts, toffee, and vibrant acidity, earning high praise (95 points from Wine Spectator). A perfect 30th birthday gift.
For over two centuries, Blandy’s Madeira has been synonymous with quality Madeira wine. The Blandy family has played a leading role in the development of Madeira wine throughout its long history, with members of the family continuing to maintain a tradition of wine-making dating back to 1811.
In 1989, to further expand the global market for Madeira, the Blandys approached another renowned Anglo-Portuguese family, the Symingtons (owners of celebrated Port houses such as Dow, Warre, Graham, and Cockburn), and offered them a partnership in the newly formed Madeira Wine Company (MWC). This partnership continues today and in 2011 the Blandys and the Symingtons signed an agreement giving the Blandy family control of the (MWC). The Symingtons remain minority shareholders. Today, Michael and Chris Blandy, 6th and 7th generation members, continue to work in the company, maintaining a tradition that spans over 200 years.
Blandys 30 Year Old Bual Madeira is a blend of wines with an average of 30 years old that have been matured in seasoned American oak casks. All the grapes were picked in the winemaking regins of Campanário and Estreito da Calheta. All wines were vinified in free running press, and fortified in the last third of fermentation.
The wines are aged at the family’s Lodge in Funchal in the traditional ‘Canteiro’ system, whereby the wine is gradually transferred from the higher floors where the temperatures are higher, to the middle floors and eventually to the ground floor where temperatures are cooler.
The process of transferring the barrels is absolutely critical to ensure the right balance of ullage and concentration. All through the ageing process, the primary fruit flavours of the wine are gently transformed into tertiary dried fruit notes that produce the unique Madeira hallmark bouquet.
The Canteiro method is reserved for the highest quality Madeira, as these wines are aged without the use of artificial heat, relying solely on the warmth of the sun.
Blandys 30 Year Old Bual Madeira blend has been created from a selection of the very best Bual vintages of the last 5 decades, and has an average of 32 years of ageing. The youngest wine in the blend is 11 years old, and the oldest is 47 years old.
The wine is aged in seasoned 650 litre old oak casks until the blending. After blending, the wine is stabilised in cask for 6 months before bottling. It is then lightly fined before bottling and does not require decanting. Bottled when ready for drinking and will keep for several months after opening.
Presented in a 50cl bottle.
Blandy’s 30 Year Old Bual Madeira has flavours of spiced citrus, dried apricot, baked peach, toffee and nuts. There are hints of white pepper and herbal complexity. It has a wonderful, vibrant acidity which cuts through the richness, keeping everything fresh and balanced. The finish goes on and on, layering dried fruits with caramel. An elegant, complex wine.
Serve lightly chilled (around 12–16°C), either as a meditative after-dinner digestif, on its own, or paired with blue cheese, foie gras, dark chocolate, crème brûlée, nuts, dried fruit or rich desserts like Christmas pudding.
It also works well with savoury dishes featuring caramelised onions or roasted game.
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