TN: 1981 Barbeito Vintage Verdelho Madeira

[Philip Harvey]

(The Wine Press – 32.00 x 50cl – 900 bottles in 2005) (See May 10th update for full tasting note). This is the real deal and IMHO, the best of the excellent current portfolio from Barbeito. For me, this wine strikes that perfect but elusive balance between:

- That lovely warm acetone nose that makes you content to just swirl and sniff a wine all night;

- Those moreish caramel and coffee flavours that means the glass never remains full long enough to fulfil 1. above; and

-The perfect amount of 'cut', grip and lift on the finish that leaves you in reverend reflection contemplating the skill of the winemaker long after the wine has been swallowed.

IMHO this is the perfect modern Madeira. Again, just a small bottling run of 150 six bottle cases of 50cl imperials and I've bought two of them - so that leaves 148.

This tasting note is one of several related tasting notes. Click [here] to see the original note in context.