Madeiras from unusual grape varieties?

[Peter Reutter]

Just curious after reading in Alex Liddell's "Maderia" about the grape varieties (again)... I remember having an old Listao (without the R), a young Listrao from ABSL and an old Tinta Vintage from Miles, all of them not in the top flight. Besides that it has allways been the usual seven suspects of Malmsey, Bual, Verdelho, Sercial and in smaller number Terrantez and Bastardo and Moscatel of course.
Has anyone of you ever had a Madeira wine from an unusual grape variety besides the "big 7" and found it to be excellent?

[Gary Banker]

I recently had a 1996 sweet colheita from Broadbent that was good. It was made from a blend of complexa, triunfo, tinta da madeira, and TNM. It seemed simpler than other colheitas that I have tried.

[Peter Reutter]

Oh yes, of course, all the good TNM colheitas that have hit the market over the last couple of years. Right, I forgot about those, but they do show how good a TNM wine can get, if made with proper care. But apart from the Colheitas, are there any Vintage Madeiras from unusual grape varieties out there?

[Roy Hersh]

Although not yet on the market, there will be in a couple of years a pure TNM Vintage Madeira, although I would not call that an unusual grape, as you know it is more prolific than any other grape grown on the island.

[Eric Ifune]

I saw that Barros e Sousa had some vintages of unusual varieties. Didn't get a chance to try them however.

[Veli Pekka P.]

The ABSL has Reserva Velha Listrao Branco in barrels and if you are lucky enough, you can find it and buy it! I have tasted it straight from barrell, thanks to Edmundo

[Roy Hersh]

I have one bottle of this in my cellar, purchased at the source. Looking for an excuse to open it but looked the other day and could not locate it in my cellar. It is in the cross hairs though and when I put my fingers on the bottle, the cork will be pulled.