The only other producer that I’m aware of who makes a dry rosé wine from Madeira is António Maçanita. I got to try his rare expression of Tinta Negra Mole last year in Portugal, and I was blown away by how intense yet light it was, powered by a mouthful of sweet-and-salty minerality. So, when I received a message about this new project from Miles Madeira, called “Atlantis,” I had to secure a few cases.

Mostly known for fortified wines, the dry wines of Madeira belong to the “DOP Madeirense” category. Tinta Negra Mole is the workhorse grape of the island and represents more than half of the vines. Created over 200 years ago, it’s a crossing of Pinot Noir and Grenache and shows off a rainbow of red fruits: cherry, pomegranate, strawberry, and raspberry. For this rosé, the vines are cultivated in small plots of land that form horizontal terraces, up-and-down Madeira's steep volcanic slopes. With prime exposure to the sun, the grapes receive relief from gusty oceanic winds delivering to the glass the best of both worlds: big fruit and ballsy minerality. Certified sustainable, Atlantis represents an important Portuguese movement also taking place in the Douro Valley: the rise of un-fortified wines. I’m a fan, and I look forward to more stunning dry wines from Madeira and beyond.  ~Allegra A