Azores Wine Company "Thomas Jefferson 10 Year" Pico Island Fortified Wine NV (375ML)
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On Pico Island, vines grow inside centuries-old volcanic stone walls called currais—built to shield the plants from brutal, salt-laden Atlantic winds in what António Maçanita calls a constant "battle between the sea and the mountain." He's one of the very few winemakers who has managed to ripen grapes reliably here, and this fortified wine is a revival of a nearly lost Azorean tradition: Pico fortified wine was a fixture in the Americas for 200 years, reportedly enjoyed by Thomas Jefferson and Russian czars, before oidium and phylloxera devastated production in 1853 and the region faded into obscurity. António built this cuvée from historical research and rare old bottles found in forgotten cellars.
Made from Arinto dos Açores, Verdelho, and Terrantez do Pico, this is golden amber with an intense, briny nose of sea air and salt, crystallized orange peel, and warm oxidative notes of toffee, raisin, toasted almond, and coffee. The palate is full and concentrated, with just enough sweetness balanced by vibrant acidity for a long, persistent finish.
Sip it slowly with aged cheese, roasted nuts, or dark chocolate.
Region: Pico Island, Azores, Portugal
Varieties: Arinto dos Açores, Verdelho, Terrantez do Pico
Style: Fortified, oxidative aging
ABV: 18.5%
Explicitly delicious.
