Wines Madeira Henriques & Henriques - Sercial 10 Years Old

Henriques & Henriques is a benchmark producer on the island of Madeira, with a long-established history crafting exemplary fortified wines. This bottle, labelled as a 10 Year Old Sercial Cuvée, is in fact made from the Sercial grape—a variety known for delivering the driest style among traditional Madeiras, though the colour is sometimes listed as red; Sercial-based wines are typically white, brilliantly amber in the glass after cask ageing. As this is a non-vintage bottling, it is blended from various harvests to maintain a consistent house style, matured in wood for a decade which imparts remarkable complexity and a nutty, tangy profile. The oxidative ageing process characteristic of Madeira brings out lifted aromas of citrus peel, green almonds, saline notes, and dried fruit, while the palate is crisp and energetic, underpinned by Madeira’s signature high acidity and a lingering, mouth-watering finish.

The rugged volcanic island of Madeira boasts a dramatic maritime climate, with steep terraced vineyards clinging to the hillsides. Cooling Atlantic winds and fertile, mineral-rich soils shape the wines, and the region’s historic "estufagem" or "canteiro" maturation processes—slow heating and prolonged cask ageing—ensure unparalleled stability and depth. With centuries of seafaring tradition, Madeira was once a staple aboard ships, its unique production methods evolved to endure long sea journeys. Today, Madeira remains an emblem of Portugal’s wine legacy, beloved for its endurance and unique savoury-sweet profiles.

This style of dry Madeira partners beautifully with a range of foods. As an apéritif, it is wonderfully rousing, but it also shines alongside salted almonds, tapenade, hard cheeses such as aged Manchego or Portuguese queijo São Jorge, and even fresh oysters or marinated sardines—the wine’s brisk acidity cutting through richer textures. Should you wish to embrace Portuguese culinary tradition, try it with espada com banana (scabbard fish with banana) or grilled limpets, both specialities from Madeira.

For optimal enjoyment, serve this wine slightly chilled, ideally between 12-14°C, to highlight its vibrant acidity and intricate aromatics. Madeira is famously robust and can be enjoyed over weeks after opening, making it a versatile and rewarding addition to your cellar.