What is your "desert island" bottle of Madeira?

[Roy Hersh]

If you could choose only one last bottle of Madeira to drink on the island (can't be the Isle of Madeira in your fantasy) what would it be?

One other qualifier: It must be a bottle of Madeira that you have already enjoyed at least once in your life.

[Marco D.]

Having never tried the legendary Barbeito 1795 Terrantez, I would have to go with the 1802 Acciaioly Terrantez. My one and only taste of that wine still haunts me to this day.

[Peter Reutter]

Can't I bring a few bottles?
OK, hard to tell, but the Blandy 1846 T is a favourite of mine, also the Quinte do Serrado 1827 B and a 1839 T from a private source. I still hope I get to taste the Oscar 1802 T one fine day, and may be after that one bottle will be enough
Best
Peter

[nicos neocleous]

1834 Barbeito that Roy and I drank together in Seattle a few years. The best Madeira of my life (so far).

[Reidar Andersen]

D'Oliveira 1900 Mosacatel , Serrado 1827 Boal.......

[Roy Hersh]

1802 Acciaioly Terrantez for me but there have a been a handful of others in the 98+ point range too.

[Julian D. A. Wiseman]

I served the HMB46T at my wedding, and it is still the best wine I have ever had. One more bottle of it sits in my collection: maybe a 10th wedding anniversary thing.

[Gary Banker]

Considering the requirement that it be something that I have had at least once, it's a toss-up. Either Blandy's 1920 Bual or Leacock's 1954 Terrantez, both of which I've had only once.

Gary

[João Rico]

Blandy's 1920 Bual

[Jesse L]

I don't even have to think about.... That would be the Blandy's 1908 Bual. According to my notes from a visit to the winery back in '06 this wine had spent 77 years in barrel. It was--as you could imagine--incredibly reductive in style, with an explosive core of black honeyed dried fruit and burnt caramel blanketed w/ this distinctive spicy, citrus peel bracing acidic finish.... This wine had tons of secondary & tertiary flavors, aromas and the most enduring length of any wine I had tried in my life. It was round and playfull on the palette, but a very serious and profound wine. I have yet to this day come across a wine that left that kind of impression...

Has anyone else had the pleasure of tasting this wine at the MWC facility in Funchal?

[Eric Ifune]

Quinta do Serrado 1827 Boal. Second maybe the D'Oliveria 1850 Verdelho.

[Reidar Andersen]

If i am not mistaken, that great Blandy's 1908 B is the same as D'Oliveiras 1908 B which they still have for sale at a much lower
price than MWC.. Anibal sold it around 1985 to MWC..

[Roy Hersh]

The 1908 Boal ... (both Blandy's and D'Oliveiras bottling) ... is a beauty. I last had it in April and it was David's bottle and a beauty. I am not sure when I'll open another one, but certainly on a special occasion.

Second maybe the D'Oliveria 1850 Verdelho - this one I had on the 18th of this month and it was such a delicious bottle. One can never get enough. I remember my score was 97 points. I gave the empty to Stewart tonight and there was one sip left. He was a very happy camper.

[Moses Botbol]

[Reidar Andersen]

He, he....... If the world goes under and we mannage to go to South Pacific in time, I will bring a case of that one pluss some other 1795 T different brand !

[Alan Gardner]

For me the 1899 Terrantez.
I'll have plenty of time on the island to figure out what this wine really is!

[David Spriggs]

For me it's easy - 1827 Quinta do Serrado Bual. Amazing stuff!

-Dave-

[Gary Banker]

I would like to re-visit this thread and maybe get a few more contributors. Having tried a few more madeiras since posting, I would like to update my choice. It's a toss-up, depending upon whether I feel sweet or dry.

1920 Favilla Vieira malvasia. Very sweet and pure with good acidity.

Or,

1929 Barbeito Verdelho. I would like to borrow somebody else's expression. This has "freight train" acidity.

[Charlie Bach]

1795 Terrantez....have had the pleasure on three occasions and know of colleagues that have indulged the 1795 T on five occasions and a select few I know have imbibed up to six times..............of course this was when you could buy the 1795 T off the shelve in Madeira.....without question my all time favorite.....I know of two bottles that are still in existence, one locally and one abroad.............what I would do and/or pay to taste it one last time.......I think only then I could die a peaceful death on a desert island!

[Alan Gardner]

Hi Charlie,
Welcome to the Board (I knew you'd been lurking).
And the late-breaking news is - don't get stranded yet! Just managed to pick up another bottle at auction. Still awaiting delivery.