H&H Madeira Verdelho 20 Yr
Henriques & Henriques Verdelho 20 Year Old Madeira is the house's flagship white grape at two decades of age — 100% Verdelho, medium-dry, aged by the traditional canteiro process, in a 750mL bottle. It took Best in Show and 98 points at the Decanter World Wine Awards 2021. Available to order online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 19% (per Fortnum & Mason trade listing; some listings say 20% — confirm on bottle)
- Size: 750mL
- Age: 20 years minimum (100% Verdelho, true age-statement blending)
- Style: medium-dry ("meio seco") — H&H's flagship white grape
- Awards: Decanter World Wine Awards Best in Show, 98 points (2021; also Best in Show 2019)
Two Decades the Canteiro Way
Henriques & Henriques dates to 1850, founded by João Gonçalves Henriques in Câmara de Lobos, and remains the largest vineyard owner on Madeira — one of the few houses to make wine from its own grapes at the 10-hectare Quinta Grande estate. Their age-statement wines are 100% of the stated grape with true minimum-age blending (the blend always exceeds the stated age), and every 10-, 15-, and 20-year wine is aged by the canteiro process: heated naturally in barrels over months to concentrate and steady the wine. Verdelho is the grape H&H is known especially for. Explore more Henriques & Henriques wines or browse the dessert wine collection.
Tasting Notes
Golden with green hues; fresh tropical fruits and spicy, peppery aromas with a hint of melon. Full-bodied, with mango and apricot leading to pineapple, finishing semi-dry and clean. Decanter's 2021 Best in Show note found it "almost surprisingly dry" — translucent walnut, sweet and faintly smoky yet tangy with apple and grape fruits, toffee, caramel, and a fresh, clean finish carried by pungent, sweeping acidity.
How to Enjoy
The house suggests roasted nuts, aged ham, assorted cheeses and terrines, creamy soups, smoked or grilled salmon, game and wild boar, mushrooms, and curry or richer Asian dishes — or simply as a digestif, even with a medium cigar. Serve cool, around 55–60°F. Once opened, it keeps indefinitely.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "20 year old" mean on a Madeira label — average or minimum age?For H&H it is a true minimum-age statement: the wine is 100% Verdelho and every component of the blend exceeds 20 years.
Is Verdelho Madeira dry or sweet?Medium-dry ("meio seco") — drier than Boal and Malvasia, fuller and rounder than Sercial. It finishes semi-dry and clean despite its richness.
How long does an opened bottle of 20-year Madeira last?Effectively indefinitely — Madeira's heat-and-oxidation maturation makes it the most stable wine in the world once opened. A 2-oz pour at a time is the traditional serve.
What is the canteiro aging process?The wine is heated naturally in barrels over months (in H&H's lodges at Câmara de Lobos), which concentrates flavors and builds Madeira's signature rancio character — as opposed to the faster, tank-based estufagem method.
A 98-point Best in Show at two decades — order H&H Verdelho 20 Year Old Madeira online at Del Mesa Liquor.