1996 Justino's Colheita Madeira

The 1996 Colheita has a noticeable deep mahogany color. It has a crisp, resinous bouquet with mandarin, furniture polish and Moroccan spices. The palate is nicely balanced and feminine, but it is missing a little weight and persistency towards the finish. Still, one has to admire the balance and focus of this Colheita that shows a little more gumption than the 1995. Vinhos Justino Henriques was established in 1870 by its namesake, and the company was hugely successful in selling Madeira to the United States. It was undergoing an expansion program when its co-proprietor, Sigfredo da Costas Campos, died in 2008. It produces a considerable percentage of the island’s Madeira from some 800 or so producers who tend to cluster around Sao Vicente and Camara de Lobos. All their wines are matured through the estufagem system, except for vintage wines that are respectfully aged from the canteiro system. The winemaker at the helm is Juan Teixeira. Most of the Reserve Madeira wines are made from Tinta Negra Mole. Importer: Saraiva Enterprises Inc, New Bedford, MA and HGC Importer, California.