TNR: D'Oly Verdelho '66 ?

[Barry Sunderland]

Has anyone tried this? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?

[Gary Banker]

I haven't had the 1966V in several years. It was a relatively dry verdelho, although less so than the 1932V. I think that it will be richer if it has been in the bottle several years.

[Jim S.]

I just noticed this thread, and remembered really enjoying this Madeira. I had included a 2005 bottling of it in a blind tasting of 5 Verdelhos and 5 Sercials. All bottles were opened 48 hours in advance of the tasting. On October 16, 2012, the Third Tuesday of the Month Wine Group ranked the 1966 D'Oliveiras Verdelho #5 out of the 10 Madeiras (my ranking was also #5). At that tasting, we purposely finished half of each bottle, leaving the recorked, half-empty bottles to be revisited.
On January 15, 2013, we reconvened for the second half of this Verdelho/Sercial blind tasting. This time, the 1966 ranked #2 by the group, as well as myself, out of the 10 Madeiras, only behind the 1912 D'Oliveiras Verdelho! It was layered, with caramel and lime zest, with a mouthfeel that was soft, but electric; great structure delivered gently-- not a blockbuster, but exquisite.
Since then, I've picked up some 1966 D'Oli Verdelho bottled in 2013. I'm looking forward to opening one from each bottling, and simultaneously watching their evolutions over several months.

[Gary Banker]

I just noticed this thread, and remembered really enjoying this Madeira. I had included a 2005 bottling of it in a blind tasting of 5 Verdelhos and 5 Sercials. All bottles were opened 48 hours in advance of the tasting. On October 16, 2012, the Third Tuesday of the Month Wine Group ranked the 1966 D'Oliveiras Verdelho #5 out of the 10 Madeiras (my ranking was also #5). At that tasting, we purposely finished half of each bottle, leaving the recorked, half-empty bottles to be revisited.
On January 15, 2013, we reconvened for the second half of this Verdelho/Sercial blind tasting. This time, the 1966 ranked #2 by the group, as well as myself, out of the 10 Madeiras, only behind the 1912 D'Oliveiras Verdelho! It was layered, with caramel and lime zest, with a mouthfeel that was soft, but electric; great structure delivered gently-- not a blockbuster, but exquisite.
Since then, I've picked up some 1966 D'Oli Verdelho bottled in 2013. I'm looking forward to opening one from each bottling, and simultaneously watching their evolutions over several months.

The tasting (especially blind) sounds interesting. What were the other wines?

[Jim S.]

Verdelho: 1912 D'Oliveiras ; 1966 D'Oliveiras ; 1973 D'Oliveiras ; N.V. RWC Porto Moniz ; N.V. RWC Savannah

Sercial: 1910 Barbeito ; 1940 Broadbent ; 1966 Blandy's ; 1971 D'Oliveiras ; N.V. RWC Charleston

For the 2013/2014 Group's year, I did a similar pair of blind tastings, except this time only with Bual:

1908 D'Oliveiras ; 1922 D'Oliveiras ; 1948 Blandy's ; 1958 D'Oliveiras ; 1958 Cossart ; 1960 Barbeito ; 1960 Blandy's ; 1968 D'Oliveiras ; 1969 Cossart ; 1977 Blandy's.

[Gary Banker]

Verdelho: 1912 D'Oliveiras ; 1966 D'Oliveiras ; 1973 D'Oliveiras ; N.V. RWC Porto Moniz ; N.V. RWC Savannah

Sercial: 1910 Barbeito ; 1940 Broadbent ; 1966 Blandy's ; 1971 D'Oliveiras ; N.V. RWC Charleston

For the 2013/2014 Group's year, I did a similar pair of blind tastings, except this time only with Bual:

1908 D'Oliveiras ; 1922 D'Oliveiras ; 1948 Blandy's ; 1958 D'Oliveiras ; 1958 Cossart ; 1960 Barbeito ; 1960 Blandy's ; 1968 D'Oliveiras ; 1969 Cossart ; 1977 Blandy's.

The verdelhos represent a range of styles with respect to richness, dryness, and acidity. So do the sercials that I have had. These seem to be well designed tastings and I would expect to see a range of opinions. Thanks for the information.