NV RWC Historic Series, Boston Bual Special Reserve Madeira 750ml

Boston Bual is sweeter than Savannah Verdelho, but the additional sugar is little noticed, given the wine’s amazing acidity. The hallmark of this wine is its otherworldly complexity, featuring cinnamon-clove spiciness with overtones of citrus peel and woodsmoke. There is just enough sweetness to excel as an after-dinner wine, but its long, dry finish also makes it work beautifully with food.

Since 2002, The Rare Wine Co. Historic Series Madeiras have been made for us by Barbeito’s Ricardo Freitas. Ricardo’s famous skills as a blender, and his extensive library of cask-aged Madeiras, are the keys to the wines’ “vintage character” style.

The core wines are named after eastern seaports that were once among the world’s centers of Madeira appreciation. Each wine in the series evokes a style of Madeira popular in that city 150 to 200 years ago.

Beginning in 2007, the Historic Series was expanded to honor great Americans and institutions with a strong connection to Madeira. Among the honorees have been George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, the City of New Orleans, Benjamin Franklin and Philadelphia’s Library Company, the nation’s earliest lending library.