Question about Henriques & Henriques Old Malvasia

Eric Ifune · Post by **Eric Ifune** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 7:23 pm

I've a couple of bottles of Henriques & Henriques Malvasia. I got them at auction a couple of years ago. They've obviously been in bottle a while. There's cellar grunge, paper labels. No Madeira govenment seal. The front label is a generic Henriques & Henriques Malvasia label. The back label states "This very old wine was bought by Messrs. Henriques & Henriques, LDA. in 1906 as an old wine. It was first bottled in 1927; re-corked and re-bottled in 1955, 1969 and 1991. When originally bottled the bottles were numbered 1 to 890. The wine is part of the reserve wines belonging to Mr. Miguel Jardim."

Alex Liddell, in his book, mentions a Reserva Malvasia without a vintage date, but thought to be from the first quarter of the 19th century. He gives it his highest rating. The wine he rates was rebottled in 1964.

My question is could these be from the same original lot? If so, this would be a very old wine.

Thanks for any information!

Peter Reutter · Post by **Peter Reutter** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 11:11 am

Dear Eric!
The first recorking date is similar to the other bottles of the so-called "heavenly quartett" of old Madeira vintage wines. So I guess you have a real treasure here. Please look up the picture of the "heavenly quartett" in the MadeiraWineGuide at http://www.madeirawineguide.com/10madei ... es_vinhos/
(click on the pic for a larger version)
and you should be in for a positive surprise

I wouldn't mind a TN if you ever open one of these

Ahem, and I certainly wouldn't mind being around if you ever open one of these

Best
Peter

Eric Ifune · Post by **Eric Ifune** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 6:28 pm

Thanks for the info Peter.
My bottle has a more commercial looking front label and it doesn't have the IVM seal on it so it may have left the island a while ago. Perhaps it is from the same source as the quartet!
I'd be happy to open a bottle with you. Perhaps with Roy at one of his tastings!
Eric

Reidar Andersen · Post by **Reidar Andersen** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 5:56 am

I have all four of The Heavenly Quartet, but so far I only have tasted the Malvasia as a guest of John Cossart of H&H..... Fantastic like Alex says in his book.