Barbeito Avô Mario Bastardo 50y med. sweet
Region: Madeira
Producer: Vinhos Barbeito
Why we chose this wine
A tribute to Mário Barbeito (1905-1985), grandfather of current owner Ricardo Diogo and a passionate collector of Madeiran and maritime history. Only 550 numbered bottles were made of this rare Bastardo cuvée.
| Volume | 75.0 cl. |
| Grape Variety | Bastardo |
| Drinking window | Ready to drink; a wine for quiet contemplation, keeping for months after opening if stored cool and dry. |
| Serveren bij | Excellent as an aperitif or digestif, or with cheese. Serve between 14-16°C. |
| Alc. | 20.0% |
| Vinification | Grapes of the rare Bastardo variety, sourced from the São Jorge vineyards on Madeira's north coast, fermented following the traditional method to the medium-sweet level, with the addition of wine spirit. |
| Ripening | Blended from reserve wines aged for decades, some left behind by Mário Barbeito himself, to an average age of 50 years. |
What the critics say
JancisRobinson.com
19,5/ 20
Tasted 09-05-2018
Drink: 2018–2040
Drink: 2018–2040
Dedicated to Avó Mário, ie Uncle Mario, Ricardo Freitas’s uncle. RS 87 g/l.
Very deep orangey gold. Smoky bitter-orange marmalade. Almost savoury and salty – a sort of umami cast on apricots. Palate-gripping intensity. Sweet but scintillating freshness and it is so fresh it finishes as if it were much drier. Mouth-watering and saliva-provoking length.
— Julia Harding MW, JancisRobinson.com
The producer
Vinhos Barbeito
Since Ricardo Diogo Freitas took over the family business in 1991, Barbeito has gone all in on quality. His Madeiras stand out for their purity and fresh acidity. The international press calls him a game changer.