4.3: Madeira - Styles of Madeira

Question 1

Name the defined labelling conventions for Madeira wines.

Answer 1

• grape variety
• level of sweetness
• length of ageing
• single vintage or multiple vintages

Question 2

What are the sweetness labelling terms used?

Answer 2

• extra dry
• dry (demonstrate some degree of sweetness)
• medium dry
• medium sweet (or medium rich)
• sweet (or rich)

Question 3

Are the sweetness labelling terms well defined?

Answer 3

• no

- some overlap between the categories and hence one producer’s ‘dry’ may be another producer’s ‘medium dry’

Question 4

How are many Madeiras, especially premium priced wines, labelled?

Answer 4

varietally

Question 5

Describe the style associated with the Sercial variety.

Answer 5

• extra dry or dry
• tend to be the lightest coloured and bodied of the varietal wines
• notes of citrus peel and nuts

Question 6

Describe the style associated with the Verdelho variety.

Answer 6

• medium dry
• usually has more residual sugar and therefore more body and a rounder texture than Sercial
• slight sweetness on the palate gives impression of sweeter flavours such as candied fruits
• may be slightly darker in colour than Sercial

Question 7

Describe the style associated with the Boal variety.

Answer 7

• medium sweet
• fuller and sweeter than Verdelho
• darker in colour
• flavours of caramel, chocolate and candied nuts

Question 8

Describe the style associated with the Malvasia variety.

Answer 8

• sweet
• also called Malmsey
• tends to be full-bodied
• often brown in colour
• the sweetest style
• still balanced by refreshing high acidity
• notes of raisins and caramel

Question 9

Describe the style associated with the Terrantez variety.

Answer 9

• medium dry or medium sweet.
• relatively high levels of sugar
• always a delicacy to them
• Aromas: citrus peel, caramel and sometimes even floral notes

Question 10

Describe the style associated with the Tinta Negra variety.

Answer 10

• since 2015, can also be varietally labelled

- can be made at any level of sweetness

Question 11

For varietal wines, does an indication of style need to appear on the label?

Answer 11

No

Question 12

What is Madeira with an Indication of Age? What are the requirements?

Answer 12

• non-vintage products
• may be labelled 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50 and ‘more than 50’ years old.
• age is an indication of style rather than a minimum or an average
• wine must be verified by IVBAM’s tasting panel, accompanied by an account of all wines used in the final blend

Question 13

How may Madeira with an Indication of Age be labelled?

Answer 13

according to style and/or grape variety

Question 14

Describe 5-year-old Madeira.

Answer 14

• made predominantly from Tinta Negra
• most of the wine will have been through the estufagem system
• good to very good in quality
• mid-priced

Question 15

Describe 10-year-old + Madeira.

Answer 15

• often made with one of the white varieties, but some producers use Tinta Negra
• made from parcels that have all been aged in the canteiro system
• oldest wines tend to be increasingly concentrated and complex and have the highest levels of acidity

Question 16

Describe 20-year-old Madeira.

Answer 16

• outstanding quality

- premium and super-premium prices

Question 17

Describe standard blend Madeira. How are they categorized?

Answer 17

• do not qualify for the age indications
• may be sold between 2-3 years after harvest
• categorised as ‘corrente’ by IVBAM
• sometimes labelled with a brand name of the producer

Question 18

What is Rainwater Madeira?

Answer 18

• a wine made in a relatively light style in terms of alcohol, body and concentration of flavours
• usually around 18% abv
• must be medium dry
• can only be associated with a maximum age indication of 10 years

Question 19

How did the name Rainwater Madeira originate?

Answer 19

name is thought to have originated when some casks awaiting shipment were left open outside and the rain diluted the wine

Question 20

What is another name for Frasqueira Madeira?

Answer 20

Garrafeira

Question 21

What is Frasqueira Madeira?

Answer 21

• usually represent the flagships of a producer’s range
• term for vintage Madeira that has been aged in wood for a minimum of 20 years
• wines must be made from a prescribed grape variety which must appear on the label, together with the year of harvest

Question 22

How is the quality of Frasqueira Madeira assessed?

Answer 22

must be assessed by IVBAM’s tasting panel

Question 23

What does the style of Frasqueira Madeira depend on?

Answer 23

grape variety from which they are made

Question 24

Describe Frasqueira Madeira.

Answer 24

• notable for their concentration and complexity of tertiary flavours
• sweetness balanced by high acidity
• super premium prices

Question 25

What is Colheita Madeira?

Answer 25

• a vintage madeira, coming from grapes of a single year, that has been aged in wood for a minimum of 5 years
• blend of varieties or be made from a single variety
• grape does not need to appear on the label but the harvest year must be stated

Question 26

How is the quality of Colheita Madeira assessed?

Answer 26

must be assessed by IVBAM’s tasting panel

Question 27

When did the Colheita Madeira category emerge?

Answer 27

2000 (reletively new)

Question 28

Why have Colheita Madeira been growing in popularity?

Answer 28

much lower ageing requirement than required for Frasqueira has made it popular and now all producers make Colheita wines