Henriques and Henriques Verdelho Single Vineyard QG Madeira

Henriques and Henriques Verdelho Single Vineyard QG Madeira is a colheita bottling from the 2007 vintage, aged twelve years in cask before release. What distinguishes this wine in the Madeira category is its single-vineyard provenance: the fruit comes exclusively from the Quinta Grande estate, 350 to 700 meters above sea level on Madeira's southern coast, while most producers blend across multiple sites. Extended cask aging at the Câmara de Lobos cellars integrates the fortifying spirit and concentrates the wine without stripping the acidity that defines Verdelho as a varietal. Henriques and Henriques has been family-run since 1850 and remains one of the few Madeira houses to own significant vineyard holdings rather than sourcing exclusively from growers. The Quinta Grande estate sits in the island's elevated interior, where Atlantic winds and volcanic soils shape Verdelho's characteristic freshness and mineral backbone. After harvest, the wine underwent fortification and the traditional estufagem heating process, then rested in seasoned oak for over a decade. This house style prioritizes extended cask time to marry the components while preserving the varietal's structure, a technique that has made Henriques and Henriques a benchmark producer in the category. The wine shows shimmering acidity with hints of eucalyptus layered over candied citrus peel, toasted almond, and saline minerality. Verdelho occupies the medium-dry slot in Madeira's sweetness spectrum, making it more versatile at the table than dessert-only styles like Malmsey or Bual. Serve it slightly chilled alongside aged Gouda, roasted nuts, or charcuterie; it also pairs beautifully with mole, duck confit, or anything involving caramelized onions. The structure and acidity mean the bottle will hold for weeks once opened, improving in the glass as it breathes. In stock at Off Premise in Lincoln Park.