This is a wine I've read about often, yet never purchased. It seems to always be readily available, so I just keep holding off. Well... thanks to Roy's posting about a retailer selling this for $250, I finally pulled the trigger. I decided to pop one open almost as soon as the package arrived, which is probably not the best thing to do, but I was curious... and Mother's Day was coming up. My mother was born in Madeira in 1931 and I thought it might be nice to give my parents a taste of a wine older than they were.
Dark caramel in color. A bit cloudy, probably still a bit shook up from delivery. Explosive nose; you can smell the caramel-goodness as soon as the cork is popped. A bit of crusting on the bottle; this is probably an older bottling. Intense attack; on the dry to off-dry side of the sweetness spectrum. Tangy and long. Lovely boullion, caramel, saline and citrus "squirt" pucker-inducing acids. Not a broad, rich wine -- but a linear, sharp and precise one. Textbook Verdelho... loved it!
TN: 1912 D'Oliveira Verdelho Vintage Madeira
Moderators: Glenn E., Roy Hersh, Andy Velebil
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Marco D.
- Posts: 940
- Joined: Thu Aug 04, 2005 10:04 am
- Location: Milford, Connecticut, United States of America - USA
TN: 1912 D'Oliveira Verdelho Vintage Madeira
Marco DeFreitas Connecticut, USA
Re: 1912 D'Oliveira Verdelho
Yeah baby. This is the real deal. I like the 1905 that Andy wrote about, slightly more than this ... but you are spot on about the laser focus and precision of this Verdelho. I am focusing more of my purchases on Sercial and Verdelho these days, but as I have found far fewer great Sercial that are still available and affordable too, I tend towards Verdelho when Terrantez is not possible. I still love Boal and Malvasia too, but like moving from CA Cabs to Burgundy as one's palate matures ... I think the same thing happens with Madeira lovers. Just a thought. It just seems easier to produce a big rich and sweet Malmsey compared to a Verdelho with this type of intensity.
Ambition driven by passion, rather than money, is as strong an elixir as is Port. http://www.fortheloveofport.com
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Steve Pollack
- Posts: 336
- Joined: Mon Mar 30, 2009 2:15 pm
- Location: Oak Park, CA, USA
Re: 1912 D'Oliveira Verdelho
marco, nice job on your tasting notes. i just polished off the last of my 1912 tonight 
and i agree with your opinion. now if you could only tell me where to find it for $250. :help:
and i agree with your opinion. now if you could only tell me where to find it for $250. :help:-
Marco D.
- Posts: 940
- Joined: Thu Aug 04, 2005 10:04 am
- Location: Milford, Connecticut, United States of America - USA
Re: 1912 D'Oliveira Verdelho
You just have to keep monitoring the forums here. This is the post that provided me with this great buying opportunity:Steve Pollack wrote:marco, nice job on your tasting notes. i just polished off the last of my 1912 tonight
http://www.fortheloveofport.com/ftlopfo ... f=6&t=6915
Buying a subscription to Roy's newsletter also provides nice buying opportunities. The June letter promises some nice deals...
Marco DeFreitas Connecticut, USA
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Steve Pollack
- Posts: 336
- Joined: Mon Mar 30, 2009 2:15 pm
- Location: Oak Park, CA, USA
Re: 1912 D'Oliveira Verdelho
thanks, i have recently subscribed. unfortunately, i missed the post on april 24 because i was out of town.Marco D. wrote: You just have to keep monitoring the forums here. This is the post that provided me with this great buying opportunity:
Buying a subscription to Roy's newsletter also provides nice buying opportunities. The June letter promises some nice deals...