Miles, Rich Madeira, NV
Miles, Rich Madeira, NV
- 75cl
- 19%
- Fortified
- Tinta Negra
Couldn't load pickup availability
Optimal drinking window: 2026 - 2050
Miles' Rich Madeira is a warming, full-flavoured fortified wine with notes of caramelised nuts, toffee, orange peel and dried figs. The palate is sweet but balanced by Madeira’s natural acidity, giving flavours of maple, candied citrus and roasted coffee, finishing long and nutty. It’s a brilliant fireside pour and pairs beautifully with Christmas pudding, blue cheese or dark chocolate.
Madeira’s unique character comes from fortification followed by deliberate heating and slow oxidation, a process that gives the wine its depth, sweetness and remarkable stability (it stays fresh for months once opened).
Founded in the early 1800s, Miles is part of the historic Madeira Wine Company and remains one of the island’s leading producers of traditional styles. A comforting, richly satisfying bottle.
This Rich Madeira is already fully mature and drinking beautifully now, having undergone its development during the estufagem heating process and subsequent ageing. The wine will remain stable for decades, with the complex flavours slowly integrating further over time. Unlike table wines, Madeira doesn't follow a traditional development curve but maintains its character with remarkable consistency. The fortification and oxidative ageing mean it will show little change over the next 20-25 years, making it virtually immortal once bottled.
Tasting Notes
AppearanceDeep amber with mahogany highlights, clear and bright in the glass.
NoseRich aromas of caramelised nuts, butterscotch, and dried figs emerge immediately. We find orange peel, coffee beans, and a hint of Christmas spice adding complexity. There's a warm, inviting quality that draws you in.
PalateSweet and full-bodied but never cloying, thanks to Madeira's natural acidity cutting through the richness. Flavours of maple syrup, candied citrus, and roasted coffee build in waves. The texture is smooth and warming, with layers of toffee and toasted almonds.
FinishLong and nutty with lingering notes of caramel and a gentle warming sensation.
Overall impressionA comforting, richly satisfying Madeira that showcases the style's unique character and remarkable balance.
Food Pairings
In Madeira, this rich style would traditionally accompany the island's famous honey cake (bolo de mel) or be sipped alongside espetada (beef skewers) as a digestif. Local cooks use it to deglaze pans when preparing the island's robust meat dishes, while fishermen would warm themselves with a glass after hauling nets. The wine pairs beautifully with queijo da ilha, the local aged cheese, and is essential for flambéing bananas in the traditional sobremesa de banana. During festival time, it's served with traditional sweet breads and crystallised fruits.
We think this wine would go well with
Serve at cellar temperature, around 16-18°C, to appreciate the full complexity without masking the delicate balance. No decanting required as Madeira is already fully oxidised and stable. Pour into small wine glasses or traditional Madeira glasses to concentrate the aromatics. Once opened, this will keep for months without deterioration, making it perfect for occasional sipping.
Madeira's volcanic soils and subtropical climate create ideal conditions for fortified wine production. The island's steep terraced vineyards face Atlantic winds that moderate temperatures, while the volcanic bedrock provides excellent drainage and mineral complexity. The unique terroir, combined with Madeira's traditional canteiro or estufagem ageing systems, creates wines of extraordinary longevity and distinctive character that cannot be replicated elsewhere.
Madeira DOC governs one of the world's most distinctive fortified wine styles, requiring specific grape varieties and unique production methods including fortification with grape spirit and controlled heating through estufagem or canteiro systems. The appellation encompasses the entire volcanic island, with regulations ensuring traditional methods that create Madeira's legendary stability and complex, oxidative character. Unlike other fortified wines, Madeira actually improves with the heat and movement that would damage most wines.
FAQs
What does this Rich Madeira taste like?
Rich and warming with caramelised nuts, toffee, and dried figs, balanced by natural acidity with a long, nutty finish.
How should I serve this wine?
Serve at 16-18°C in small wine glasses. No decanting needed, and it keeps for months once opened.
What food pairs well with Rich Madeira?
Excellent with Christmas pudding, blue cheese, dark chocolate, or nuts. Also brilliant as a fireside sipper on its own.
How long will this wine keep?
Madeira is virtually indestructible - this will drink beautifully for decades and stays fresh for months once opened.
What makes Madeira unique?
The deliberate heating and oxidation during production creates a wine of extraordinary stability and complex, warming character found nowhere else.
When is the best time to drink this?
Ready to drink now and will remain at its peak for decades. Perfect as an after-dinner drink or with rich desserts.
OUR GROWERS
Miles Madeira
Explore related wines
-
-
Speak to one of our Wine Gurus
Speak to a Wine GuruWith years of experience, our team can help you with all your wine buying and selling needs