Blandy’s 10 Year Old Bual
Bual, (or Boal) also known as “Malvasia Fina” is a vigorous varietal that does best on the south coast of the Island – between Ribeira Brava and Calheta. Picking is relatively early, producing a medium rich wine. Medium to dark, full-bodied and fruity with a well rounded flavour and attractive ‘smoky’ complexity.
Bright golden-brown colour. It presents great aromatic intensity with a complex bouquet of dried fruits, such as figs and plums, with notes of almonds and wood, subtly completed by caramel and vanilla notes. Notes of cinnamon and sweet spices. The attack is medium sweet, with great balance, sugars, and acids, soft, and smooth with notes of fruit cake, liqueur, and candied fruit. Pleasant and persistent, very smooth aftertaste of honey and ginger biscuits.
Reviews
Sugar and alcohol are superbly integrated in this Bual that balances rich flavours of red apple, walnut & pumpkin jam, quince and maraschino cherries with a thick vegetal rim of coffee, caramel, tobacco and cherry leaves. High notes of mahogany, cherry jam and Earl Grey-infused poached plums add both lift and depth.
This medium-sweet Madeira shows subtle varnish, dried fruit and pie crust notes. The palate is sharp and full-bodied, moderated by residual sugar (80 g/L), with a tense and prolonged finish. So much tension. - JGL
The August 2024 bottling of the NV Bual 10 Year Old was produced with grapes mostly from the south of the island, between Ribeira Brava and Calheta on volcanic soils. It fermented with indigenous yeasts and aged in oak casks according to the "canteiro" method for an average of 10 years. It was fortified to 19% alcohol, keeping a pH of 3.4 and 95 grams of sugar. It's complex, nutty and very spicy, with notes of quince paste, caramelized fruit and a touch of brandy and a resinous, volatile touch. - LG