NV Rare Wine Co. Madeira "New York" Malmsey, Madeira, Portugal

ABOUT THE WINE

New York Malmsey is a rich, sweet Madeira in The Rare Wine Co.’s Historic Series, made with Vinhos Barbeito. Malvasia is blended with Tinta Negra, and maturation follows the traditional canteiro method in oak casks. The Malvasia must is fermented to a residual sugar level of 96–135 g/l, then fortifed with brandy to halt fermentation and raise the final alcohol content to 19.5% ABV. The wine is aged in cask and incorporates a portion of very old wines (ranging from 30 to 60 years old) sourced from historic library stocks to replicate the texture and complexity of vintage 19th-century Madeiras. The wine is subjected to traditional Madeira heating processes to develop its signature oxidative notes of caramelized orange, baked apricot, molasses, and toasted nuts while retaining high natural acidity.

This wine celebrates the luscious Malmsey style prized in historic New York. Serve after dinner, on its own or with chocolate, nuts and fruit-based desserts. It is ready to drink and keeps well after opening.

ABOUT THE PRODUCER

The Historic Series is a collaboration between The Rare Wine Co. and Vinhos Barbeito, the Madeira producer. Rare Wine Co. founder Mannie Berk and Barbeito’s winemaker Ricardo Freitas developed the blends to evoke the styles of Madeira that were popular in American cities in the 18th and 19th centuries. The idea took shape in 1998, and the first wines arrived in the early 2000s.

The core wines are named for historic port cities and Madeira styles: Charleston Sercial is the driest; Savannah Verdelho is medium-dry; Boston Bual is richer; New York Malmsey is sweet and luscious; and Baltimore Rainwater is a lighter, delicate style. The labels use old city engravings and describe each place’s connection to Madeira.

A key part of the project is blending for “vintage character”: wines of different ages, sometimes including very old cask-aged Madeira, are combined to give the bottlings depth and distinctive character without being vintage-dated. The series has also grown to include special bottlings honoring people and institutions with Madeira connections, including Thomas Jefferson and George Washington.