TN: 1908 Blandy's Malmsey Vintage Madeira

[Alan Gardner]

Malmsey Vintage 1908 Madeira – bottle No. 435

From the back label:
“This wine was aged in oak till 1957. the total contents of the cask was 398 litres which yielded 530 bottles of which 500 bottles have been reserved for Sherry Wine & Spirits Co. Inc., New York. The remainder has been kept for private use of our Directors.”.

There is also a side sticker saying “This wine was acquired from a private collection. Morrell & Company, Wine Merchant & Fine Wine Auctioneers”

The front label identifies the contents as 1 pint, 9 fluid ozs. and Alcohol 21% by volume.
Tasting Note:

Astonishingly pale colour – which turned out to be a good thing. Most of the Malmseys I’ve had ‘recently’ have been thick and sticky. The Blandy’s was a light gold-tawny and extremely clear. But bountiful aromas of treacle toffee followed by dried fruit and finally coffee.
On the palate – it was amazingly elegant – almost danced across the palate, yet at the same time was remarkably dense in flavour. Dried fruits followed by lemon and tangerine marmalade notes, with astounding acidity yet no detectable VA. Finished with coffee laced with orange.

Certainly the best Madeira I’ve tried in a couple of years. It was so ‘light’ (in terms of texture and colour, but not in flavour) that I would probably not have identified it as a Malmsey. My guess would have been that it spent most of its time in glass, rather than oak (despite the back label). If anyone still has this, I’m guessing it will go for another 50 years (at least), but unless you’re a young whippersnapper, then be selfish and open this now.

[Roy Hersh]

Now that is a tasting note. Bravo!

I felt like I was at the table discussing it with you as we sipped away. Nice job Alan.