Sercial Madeira
About
Madeira is a fortified Portuguese wine made in the Madeira Islands, an archipelago that lies north of the Canary Islands. Madeira comes in a variety of styles ranging from dry (Sercial), which is usually served as an aperitif; to sweet, which is typically served with dessert.
There are four major types of Madeira (ranging from sweet to dry) and named according to the grape variety used. Sercial is the driest, its grapes being the last to be harvested, and is nearly fermented completely dry with very little residual sugar (0.5 to 1.5 on the Baum scale). This style of wine is characterized with high-toned colors, almond flavors and high acidity.
Information
Physical Description
This dry type of Madeira is the whitest of all varieties.
Tasting Notes
Preparation and Use
Best served slightly chilled.
Conserving and Storing
Madeira wine should be stored in an upright position. A small gas exchange is supposed to maintain the oxidized aroma. The contents of the bottle should not touch the cork, otherwise the taste of the wine could suffer from the fact that the cork deteriorates faster than the wine. If the level of wine in the bottle has dropped considerably during storage and you have several bottles of the same wine, you can sacrifice one bottle and use it to fill up the others. The remaining wine might fit into a half bottle.
Another method to tackle ullage is to raise the level of wine by putting small, sterile, glass balls into the bottle. In any case you should take action when the level of wine reaches the lower end of the neck. Too much space for air inside over a long period is not a good thing. You should also cover exposed corks with wax to prevent them from drying out prematurely. If the bottle is corked with a short stopper, a good covering with wax or some layers of cellophane is strongly advised. Indeed, a secure way to store your vintage bottles is to seal them into a plastic bag. This will also keep the label in top condition and the bottle free from dust.
