"Madera Massandra": reviews, description

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

We do not choose good alcohol in order to lose control over the situation and our emotions. We take it to feel the atmosphere of the evening more fully, to celebrate a really significant event, to be with friends or a loved one. Therefore, good alcohol cannot be cheap. Still, they put their soul into it! If you want an original strong wine, then the ideal choice is Madera Massandra. This drink has a rich bouquet, a delicate but very strong aroma, a pleasant taste and a long aftertaste.

From history

"Madera Massandra" is a fortified white wine with a single producer in the Crimea. The biography of this alcoholic drink has been counted since 1892. From time immemorial, very sweet Albillo, Verdelho and Sersial grapes have been the basis. Such a long history certainly suggests that the drink should have its own zest. Of course it is. The process of maderization has become special, the meaning of which lies in the five-year aging of wine, for which oak barrels are used. By the way, the excerpt is comingunder open sunlight. Because of this special feature, the Crimean "Madera Massandra" was called "twice born by the sun." The aging process takes about 40% of the original volume from the wine, but this is a reasonable price to pay for the opportunity to enjoy a truly unique drink.

Why drink?

"Madera Massandra" is a real mystery for a true gourmet, because it is a "male" drink with a truly "female" essence. This wine is compared with a woman-mystery, a woman-coquette, able to give hitherto unprecedented pleasure, if her secret is revealed. The attractiveness of such a "lady" is distinguished by discreet, but hidden charisma, because of which, once tried, it is impossible to refuse a new use. This wine could never be called an image drink. His presence at the festive table was never mandatory. This is not sherry or port, although these wines are close in origin to Madeira. But this unique man could always boast of his circle of admirers. Even the name itself was pronounced aspirated, and the passion for the miraculous properties of the drink was compared with passion. Such honors were not dreamed of even by the recognized legislators of alcohol fashion. Drinking wine in one gulp is thoughtless waste. Here you need to enjoy the bouquet, inhale the vapors and taste drop by drop in order to understand the true value of drinking. Why drink it? Yes, to feel the taste of real wine to the last drop!

From the very beginnings

Madera, or Madeira - this was the name of the wine back in those ancient times, when it was made on the wooded island of the same name in Portugal. The principles of manufacturing and aging have survived unchanged to this day. Therefore, even today, a saccharoamine reaction occurs in wine, which explains the amber color and caramel-nutty notes in taste and aroma.

The first vines on the island of Madeira took root in 1453. It was that year that can be considered a prerequisite for the appearance of the drink, but in fact, chance helped. Portuguese ships brought wine to India, but because of the calm, they drifted for a long time in the equatorial latitudes under the scorching sun. The wine had to be taken to Europe, but at the end of the journey, the drink changed its taste and aroma, getting shades of roasted nuts and caramel in the process.

There is another version of the origin of Madeira, according to which the stony wet soil of the island did not allow building cellars, and the wine had to be stored in the attic, where it was warmed by the sun.

The start of a long journey

World fame came in the 16th century to the drink, when Dutch merchants began to take it for export. The first admirers were the British, who could sell a house for a barrel of drink. The high cost did not prevent wine from acquiring the status of a cult alcohol. Among the fans were great people. For example, the Duke of Clarence, brother of Edward, King of England, who was sentenced to death, wished to be drowned in this wine. In the 18th century, ladies used Madeira as a perfume by dipping their handkerchiefs into it. But in Russia at the beginningof the last century, the drink was highly respected by Grigory Rasputin himself, who could drink 5-6 liters of wine for dinner. Even poison was poured into his glass of wine and cakes. By the way, it was the sugar (!) contained in cakes and wine that weakened the effect of potassium cyanide. After all, Rasputin did not die from poisoning. Considering that he was a strong man, his love for ordinary wine would have caused distrust, but "Madera Massandra" reviews, rating and strength have always had the corresponding unique drink. At international exhibitions, the drink received 10 gold medals!

Crimean pride

The historical homeland of the drink remained immortalized in its name, but the Russians associate with the Crimea at the mention of Madeira. Indeed, the village near Y alta, located in the southern part of the peninsula, is a great place for growing Shabash, Albillo and Sersial grape varieties. The winery has the largest drink production site in Europe. By the way, "Madera Massandra" is produced in the Kuban, in the Krasnodar Territory, in Armenia and Moldova. At the same time, a wine drink from the Crimea has always been considered the standard of quality. Only once stopped work on the production of wine. It was the period of the Great Patriotic War. But the drinks were evacuated to Tbilisi, as they were of value akin to works of art. Wine returned home only in 1945. Now in the Crimean cellars they contain crops of all years, from 1900 to the present day.

Maderization

For productionMadeiran wines are rosé, white and red grape varieties. In the Crimea, they do it only on the basis of white. Grapes grow on centuries-old vines, as they did on the Portuguese island. Crimean wine differs from the original recipe only by the addition of refined grain alcohol instead of grape alcohol. Therefore, the taste of European wine is softer. The drink is aged in barrels, the wood for which is supplied from Moldova or Krasnodar. These should be old casks, as the high saturation of oak tannins is bad for the taste of the wine. Therefore, before pouring wine into a barrel, a person climbs inside and scrapes off the top layer of wood. This distinguishes Madera Massandra from other drinks. Reviews of tasters confirm the fact that even today the wine retains an unforgettable taste of past times. At the same time, the drink does not become obsolete, but remains forever young and relevant. Isn't that the dream of a true winemaker?!

Customers Say

Our people love good wine, but they are not in a hurry to overpay for it, so a recognized brand is the key to success and commercial benefits. Madera stands for a long time under the scorching sun and only gains taste and aroma. Helps to enrich the wine and the air layer in the containers. For several seasons in the sun, Madeira reaches the desired condition, after which it goes to the basement. By the way, the wine stays cool for several more years before it goes to the buyer. If necessary, Madeira is blended. There are factories that produce products using simplified technology. They produce ordinary wines, the maderization of which is carried out artificially.heated barrels. Such analogues withstand only a year.

Artificial "Madera Massandra" customer reviews also receive diverse, but we can immediately conclude that this is a product of more mass consumption. The fortress remains at the level, but the caramel-nutty tones of the drink fade into the background. The result is wine for a banal feast, not ambrosia for the elite!

Drinking tradition

This noble drink deserves respect and consideration of the rules for its use. Only in this way can you enjoy the full potential of the wine. Madera is an excellent aperitif, provided that the doses are moderate. If you slightly cool the drink, then it can be harmoniously combined with snacks and hot dishes. The wine has a very pleasant smell, but the taste is harsh for the first time, and therefore stretching the process and drinking in sips may not be entirely pleasant.

If you decide to taste the wine "Madera Massandra", how to drink it correctly? Slowly but surely. Pour alcohol into high-stemmed tulip glasses. Remember that you can not heat the glass, and you need to fill it only two-thirds. In this way, a person can shake the wine and pick up additional flavors before sipping. Open the bottle and let the wine breathe.

Serve with soul

A true connoisseur of elite alcohol will not allow himself to eat processed cheese. The serving process is very important for the mood and feelings of the guests. So, "Madera Massandra" appeared on your table. What is this drink served with?Recall that Madeira is a long-liver that can be stored for an arbitrarily long time. So you can buy it in advance and for the future. If the wine has been aged for more than 50 years, then notes of pear, figs, quince and dates are added to the nutty aroma. Such a drink should be served after dinner with a variety of snacks. Fruit, nut butter sandwiches will do. The taste of cigars is revealed in a new way with wine. Madera sets off the taste of ham and smoked meat. And, of course, it is worth remembering Rasputin and eating wine with cakes. This is a delicious dessert with an alcoholic touch!