From the island of Madeira, this medium-dry fortified wine offers an interesting slightly herbaceous edge, followed by a nutty, dry caramel palette. There’s a little sweetness balanced by good acidity, a very interesting wine that matches well with a host of foods, from anchovies on toast to hard cheeses like Gruyere or Comte.
Barbeito is a relatively young Madeira house having only been started in 1946, this however does not make it any less outstanding. The style known as Rainwater is rarely made nowadays and the exact origins of the name are unknown, however the legend goes that barrels of wine were left on the beaches before shipping and rainwater would be absorbed by the wood and impart an extra quality to the wine. It tends to be drier and lighter than other Madeiras and this medium dry reserva, made with the traditional canteiro method and aged for a minimum of 5 years.