Henriques & Henriques Founder's 1894 Madeira, Portugal

DUE NOV 2025

Impressive color. When comparing with the 1898, the Founder’s Reserve is dark amber but transparent. The bouquet is all about complexity and underlying subtle scents. I feel stupid to even trying to tear these elements apart but hey, that’s the wine nut in me taking over. Vanilla fudge, ground coffee, nutmeg, raisins, Tia Maria (cocoa), wet earth, smoke and a touch of sea air. Fabulous! On the palate it changes a bit and I am amazed by the pure and generous fruit feel. Elegance incarnated with tobacco, dark chocolate, ground coffee, burnt sugar and nutmeg. Intense aftertaste with that unmistakable acidity kick leading you home to Madeira. True world class. I hope you, dear reader, gets to taste this some day. It sets a standard for just how good Solera can be!

96-97 points Niklas Jorgensen Mad About Madeira

Solera start date: 1894, close date: 1899. 20% alc./vol., 161 g/L residual sugar.

Henriques & Henriques is a prestigious name in the world of Madeira wines, known for producing some of the finest and most distinctive fortified wines from the island of Madeira. Founded in 1850, the family-owned winery has a long and storied history that spans several generations. Henriques & Henriques is one of the few remaining fully integrated producers of Madeira, from vineyard management to bottling, allowing them to maintain complete control over the quality and consistency of their wines.

Madeira, located off the coast of Portugal, is famous for its unique winemaking process, which involves heating the wine (a process called estufagem) to replicate the conditions of long sea voyages. This process, combined with the island's distinctive soil and climate, produces wines that are rich, complex, and capable of aging for decades. Henriques & Henriques has an extensive range of Madeira wines, from the lighter, more approachable styles to rich, complex ones designed for aging.

The winery’s expertise is showcased in their variety of styles, including dry, medium dry, medium sweet, and rich, full-bodied sweet Madeiras. They are best known for their use of traditional Madeira grape varieties, such as Sercial, Verdelho, Bual, and Malvasia, each contributing unique characteristics to the final wine. Their vintage Madeiras, in particular, have earned widespread acclaim for their ability to age beautifully, developing an incredible depth of flavor and complexity over time.

Henriques & Henriques also stands out for its commitment to sustainability and innovation, ensuring that their vineyards and winemaking practices are aligned with modern environmental standards while still preserving the traditional craftsmanship that has defined the Madeira wine industry for centuries.

Whether you’re exploring their entry-level styles or seeking a rare vintage Madeira, Henriques & Henriques offers an impressive range of wines that highlight the unique qualities of this iconic island wine.