I was surprised to see mentioned that Barnisotte figs give Black Madiera a run for its money in a taste test.  Has anyone else had the opportunity to taste these side by side.  How do their growing characteristics compare?  Does Barnisotte require the same heat hours or is it shorter than BM? 

Thanks
Tom

I also tasted both of them but not side by side.
In our climate ,north east these cultivars are not well adapted so they are not easy to grow to the age when they will produce ripe figs every year.
They are for Gardeners that really want to push the envelope and take such a good care of them that they will pay back with ripe fruits.
In any case they are not Sal Gene or Marseilles vs black when it comes to easy to grow.
Having that in mind Barnisotte Black will ripe easier ,here than Madeira Black.
The fruits are better tasting on Barnisotte black because they are more close to properly ripe and not because ,Black Madeira is inferior.
Black Madeira needs longer hotter Summer to be properly ripe.
On the other hand if a tree gets older ,the older it gets the earlier it ripe the fruits.
So ,if one is patient,I think that at about 7 years of age,Madeira Black will start getting properly ripe fruits every year here in the North east.
My tree is 5 years old and it had ripe fruits but not properly ripe fruits.
This year it started forming Embryos early so I have hopes they will ripe properly.

The Black Madeira is superior, but the Barnisotte is a good contender. The Barnisotte is a little earlier to ripen.