"T-top" Closures on Madeiras

[Marco D.]

I've had a few old vintage Madeiras that have been in bottle for quite some time and had a reusable "T-top" cork closure. They have all been relative disappointments... tired and dull.

Has anyone else seen this with older bottles? I'm wondering if this type of closure is not well suited for long term aging. Perhaps it lets in too much air over time and prematurely ages the wine?

[Roy Hersh]

I have seen the T-closures on several older bottlings too. I always wonder why they do so. However, I think you'd agree with me, that even the best of Madeira corks are pretty short and pathetic, especially in comparison to Vintage Port or Bordeaux corks. They are far more like what is used in German Rieslings, short stumpy little things. IMO, I do not believe the T-closures allow for the oxidation, however you never see them used by Port companies for long term agers, and often see the "T's" used on Tawnies with an indication of age and other wood aged Ports. So maybe there is something to this.

[Eric Ifune]

I've some Vinhos Justino Henriques 1933 Malmsey with these tops. Just a lead capsule over the top. They are an excellent Madeira, but I do worry about the storage conditions of them.

[Jim Wagoner]

I also have a case of the 1933 Justino Henriques Malmsey with T-tops and foil. I have found no premature oxidization in any I have tried. I recently opened a Blandy's Solera 1864 Gran Cama do Lobos which had a T-top. I found the contents to be what I expected for a 154 year old madeira and have no reason to believe it had suffered from it's type of closure. I must admit that when I see an older bottle with a T-top closure I am always leery but I have not been disappointed yet.

[Jim Wagoner]

Oops, make that a 144 year old bottle. I never did get that degree in higher math!

[Roy Hersh]

Wow, am I seeing correctly? Hey Jim ... amazed to see you here but very pleased. I hope you will come back here and share more of your Madeira brilliance. This months newsletter is going to have a feature article on an amazing array of 19th century Madeira bottlings! Stay tuned.