H&H Madeira Malvasia 15 Yr
Henriques & Henriques Malvasia 15 Year Old Madeira is the sweetest of the four classic Madeira styles — 100% Malvasia (Malmsey), aged a minimum of 15 years by the canteiro process, in a 750mL bottle at about 20% ABV. Opulent yet never cloying, it is the stuff of legends. Available to order online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.
- ABV: ~20% (per-SKU unconfirmed — official Malmsey 10-yr analytical is 20% vol; confirm on bottle)
- Size: 750mL
- Age: 15 years minimum (100% Malvasia, true age-statement blending)
- Style: the sweetest and most unctuous of the classic Madeiras
- Producer: Henriques & Henriques, est. 1850 — Madeira's largest vineyard owner
Malmsey, the Stuff of Legends
Malvasia — Malmsey to the English-speaking world — is the richest of Madeira's four noble grapes, and H&H's 15-year is, in the importer's words, "an eloquent prolegomenon to the delights of garrafeira (vintage) madeira." The house, founded in 1850 at Câmara de Lobos, ages all its 10-, 15-, and 20-year wines by canteiro: naturally heated in barrels over months for concentration and consistency. Expect toffee, molasses, caramel, coffee, quince, and spice cake — yet, like all Madeiras, never cloying. Explore more Henriques & Henriques wines or browse the dessert wine collection.
Tasting Notes
The importer's notes: glazed walnut, crème brûlée, fig toffee, and clove-scented marmalade, "elevated and delineated by the wine's mineral depths and lilting acidity," with a languorous finish that "recedes like a late-afternoon tide towards its reunion with the sunset." Full-bodied and opulent, with the acidity that keeps great Malmsey refreshing.
How to Enjoy
The house pairs it with roasted nuts, blue-veined cheeses, foie gras and pâtés, and desserts — or as a digestif with a fuller-bodied cigar. Serve cool; like all Madeira, it keeps indefinitely once opened.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Malmsey — is it the same as Malvasia Madeira?Yes — Malmsey is the traditional English name for Malvasia, the sweetest of Madeira's four classic grape varieties.
Why is Malvasia Madeira sweet but never cloying?Acidity. Madeira's naturally high acidity balances even the sweetest styles, so the wine finishes fresh rather than heavy — the signature of great Malmsey.
What is the difference between a 15-year Malvasia and a vintage Malvasia?The 15-year is a blend whose every component exceeds 15 years (true minimum-age blending); a vintage (garrafeira/frasqueira) Malvasia is from a single exceptional harvest, aged decades in cask.
What desserts pair with Malmsey Madeira?Crème brûlée, fig and toffee desserts, nut tarts, and blue-veined cheeses — anything where caramelized sweetness meets the wine's acidity.
The sweetest Madeira, at its most opulent — order H&H Malvasia 15 Year Old online at Del Mesa Liquor.