
Malmsey is the term for a Madeira wine created from the Malvasia grape variety. The term Malvazia includes a cluster of grape types that are grown in the Mediterranean, Canary Islands, Madeira Islands, and Balearic islands. The terms of wines created with the Malvazia variety are often referred to with a variety of names including Malvasia, Malvazia, and Malmsey. The grape types are used to create white and sometimes red wines, although the red wines are produced very sparingly. The Malvasia term is said to have come from Monemvasia, which is a Venetian fortress that is known in Italian under the term Malvasia. The fortress would have been a center for traders and Venetian traders were so apt at trading the wine that wine shops in the region were called malvasie. Another suggestion said the wine was named after a district called Malevizi. The red grapes of the variety produce light pink to red color wines. Malvasia wines are typically heavy bodied while young and other wines created from the type, such as fortified wines, contain nutty flavors. Malmsey refers to a sweeter version of the Madeira wine and confused many when the term started to refer to any sweet wine from the region, regardless of variety type.
Carmo Vinhos Madeira Malmsey 10 Yr is richest style of Madeira. With a deep amber color, this intense wine has a complex flavor of walnuts, dried fruits, coffee and caramel. Full body hiding the acidity and a very long finish. An excellent accompaniment to coffee.
Robert Mondavi The Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon To Kalon Vineyard is made from 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot.
The story of Robert Mondavi Winery begins here, with the To Kalon Reserve. This tier represents the pinnacle of the wines produced by the winery. The 2021 vintage offers fresh black fruit with dark chocolate, dried herbs, and hints of vanilla and violet. Flavors of black plum and blackberry with red fruit and a hint of graphite on the finish. Elegant and plush with sweet, beautifully integrated tannins and a lengthy finish.
Review:
2021 Robert Mondavi The Reserve To Kalon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is a beautifully crafted wine with impressive intensity, depth, and a balanced structure that carries the day. From the To Kalon Vineyard in Oakville, the portion owned by Constellation, comes this blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot. Pure blackberry fruit, cassis, graphite, and violet aromas leap from the glass, nuanced by fragrant, toasty new cedar wood. Full-bodied, framed by an array of plush dark black fruit notes, currants, crème de cassis, and polished tannins that are firm and elongated, with ironstone mineral accents. Dynamic in its length and texture, it is utterly intriguing, with a beckoning quality that lingers after each sip. You want to know precisely where this wine is going—demanding your attention.
- Decanter 98 Points