Tasting notes:

Another super-premium vintageSercial from Justino’s winery nearFunchal, this example comes fromthe superb 1998 vintage. The finequalitywine has a deepish tawnycolour with green rim. The nose ispristine with classic aromatics: caramel,kitchen spices, dark chocolate, roastedBrazil nuts and a floral accent: complex.The midweight palate tastes dry withassertive acidity, intense flavours andplenty of estufa character. Some gentlygrippy wood tannin adds a little extrastructure. Lingering and layered, this is aserious wine. It will pair beautifully withgame birds, perhaps dove, braised andserved with Madeira sauce andaccompanied by a side of wild rice andgrilled sweetcorn.(Patricia Stefanowicz MW)