What Madeira Have You Opened This Week?

[Eric Ifune]

I last opened a 07 Blandys Bual last year. Agree with you, it was great upon opening but did improve by the next day.

[Al B.]

A bottle of Justino’s Tinta Negra 1999 Colheita, bottled June 2024. It’s OK, but as hard as I try, I can’t love Tinta Negra.

[Eric Menchen]

A bottle of Justino’s Tinta Negra 1999 Colheita, bottled June 2024. It’s OK, but as hard as I try, I can’t love Tinta Negra.

I think Tinta Negra flies all over the place, sweet, dry, medium sweet ... lots of differences from aging. I bought three bottles last December when visiting the island. One was sweet from 1929, there was a medium-dry 1998, and a 30-year blend. I had others that I didn't think were worthwhile.

[Glenn E.]

A bottle of Justino’s Tinta Negra 1999 Colheita, bottled June 2024. It’s OK, but as hard as I try, I can’t love Tinta Negra.

Is this labeled as a Colheita? Seems like they'd have bottled it as a Frasqueira since it has been in wood long enough. Although if it was bottled in June of 2024, it hasn't (yet) spent the requisite year in bottle before being sold.

[Eric Ifune]

Borges 1979 Sercial

[Al B.]

A bottle of Justino’s Tinta Negra 1999 Colheita, bottled June 2024. It’s OK, but as hard as I try, I can’t love Tinta Negra.

Is this labeled as a Colheita? Seems like they'd have bottled it as a Frasqueira since it has been in wood long enough. Although if it was bottled in June of 2024, it hasn't (yet) spent the requisite year in bottle before being sold.

It was labelled as a colheita, not as frasqueira. I agree that it could have been bottled as frasqueira (even if that needed a short delay), but it wasn’t. Maybe there was a quality decision taken…

[Mike J. W.]

A bottle of Justino’s Tinta Negra 1999 Colheita, bottled June 2024. It’s OK, but as hard as I try, I can’t love Tinta Negra.

Is this labeled as a Colheita? Seems like they'd have bottled it as a Frasqueira since it has been in wood long enough. Although if it was bottled in June of 2024, it hasn't (yet) spent the requisite year in bottle before being sold.

It was labelled as a colheita, not as frasqueira. I agree that it could have been bottled as frasqueira (even if that needed a short delay), but it wasn’t. Maybe there was a quality decision taken…

This is a general question for anyone. Is a Frasqueira considered of better quality than a Colheita? IIRC a Frasqueira can be called as such if it's over 20 years old. Is there anything else that distinguishes it from a Colheita of a similar age?

[Glenn E.]

Is this labeled as a Colheita? Seems like they'd have bottled it as a Frasqueira since it has been in wood long enough. Although if it was bottled in June of 2024, it hasn't (yet) spent the requisite year in bottle before being sold.

It was labelled as a colheita, not as frasqueira. I agree that it could have been bottled as frasqueira (even if that needed a short delay), but it wasn’t. Maybe there was a quality decision taken…

This is a general question for anyone. Is a Frasqueira considered of better quality than a Colheita? IIRC a Frasqueira can be called as such if it's over 20 years old. Is there anything else that distinguishes it from a Colheita of a similar age?

Generally, if you could label something as a Frasqueira, you'd do it. It at least implies that it's a better Madeira.

"Colheita" in Madeira terms just means it's spent at least 5 years in wood. "Frasqueira" means that it is at least 20 years old, with 19 of those years having been in wood. Thus my question to Alex (which I answered myself) - his bottle couldn't quite be called a Frasqueira yet because Frasqueira must spend a year in bottle before being sold, and something bottled in June of 2024 couldn't have spent a year in bottle if he bought it in May of 2025. It had plenty of time in wood... just not that weird requisite year in bottle before being sold.

Alex's bottle is I think the first time I've seen a Madeira that spent more than 20 years in wood labeled as a Colheita instead of as a Frasqueira.

[Eric Ifune]

Frasqueira are considered far more prestigious. Usually, bottling a Colheita is more an economic decision if the winemaker thinks it will continue to improve in cask.

[Mike J. W.]

Thanks Glenn and Eric, that was helpful.

[Roy Hersh]

A friend of mine from Madeira, came to visit and have dinner together. I brough a great Port. He surprised me and opened a bottle that I had only had once prior. an excellent bottle of 1899 Terrantez from Leacock's. He had bought it in the early 00's and did not know then, when it had been bottled. We only had two glasses each of Port, before diving into this one. We each had a few glasses and there was about 1/3 of it left, which he took back to his hotel. A really seamless and GREAT Terrantez. Best I have had so far this year. Not sure if I will get to the island this year, but have 4 other bottles from the 1800's I am trying to find an opportunity to taste this year. If I don't make it back to the island, one of those 4 will have to wait until I do!

[Moses Botbol]

Been drinking a Saveiro 5 year old "Castanea". Has to be one of the best 5 Madeira's I've tried. Normally, I would not buy a 5 year Madeira, but like the Saveiro brand. It's aged in chestnut barrels which I hear is uncommon today in Madeira.