Blandy’s 10 Year Old Sercial
Sercial is the driest varietal, late ripening and low in alcohol before fortification. Vineyards are found either at 600 metres above sea level on the south of the island at Jardim da Serra or at sea level on the north at Seixal and Porto Moniz.
Bright crystalline citrine color with golden reflections. It presents a chracteristic bouquet of dried fruits macerated in brandy, almonds, candied citrus and spices. The attack is dry with a pleasant sensation of citrus freshness and hazelnut. A long finish leaves notes of spice and exotic wood.
Reviews
Top notes of rose petals, jasmine and cherry blossom lead the fragrant, alluring nose. An earthy note of cherry leaves plays in the background. Focused and long on the palate, with piercing zestiness and razor-sharp acidity carrying the fresh walnut, ripe pear and apple flavours, around a core of apricot peel. Juicy undercurrent of lemonade and orange juice. Long tail of apple peel, basil and nutty honey.
Sercial usually is the driest wine, and the NV Sercial 10 Year Old, which mixed grapes from the south at 600 meters in altitude and from the north at sea level, has only 55 grams of sugar, compared with the up to 125 grams of other varieties in the 10-year-old category. This has a bright and pale color. There's aromatic complexity, higher pitched, nutty and nuanced. It's quite sharp and has a low pH of 3.35. This is real Sercial. It's sweet but balanced. - LG
A dry and angular sercial with sea breeze and subtle hazelnuts on the nose. The palate is lovely and angular, with lots of freshness, dry fruit and a nervy, saline finish. This is aged in a canteiro system, in 650-liter American oak barrels, up to bottling. - J.G.L