Where to get started with Sercial?

[Andy Dremeaux]

Up to this point I've explored a fair bit of madeira, but I have not yet ventured into sercial. Can anyone recommend a bottle in the $100 range and another in the $300 range? Rare Wine Co has the D'Oliveira 69 and Barbeito 78 and 88 on the lower end. On the higher end, D'Oliveira 37 and Barbeito 51, 33, 17, and 10. I also see Blandy's 62, 66 and 74 available elsewhere on the net.

I'm a total acid freak, and my best experience in madeira so far has been the Barbeito Favilla Vieira 1920, which is absolutely screeching (at least to my untrained palate), so something in that vein would certainly be appreciated.

I looked through the TNs on here, btw, would just like a more comparative opinion. Thanks guys.
-andy

[Marco D.]

On the low end, I would try the 1978 Barbeito, very dry and high in acids. On the high end I liked the 1910 Barbeito and the 1966 Blandys, although the Blandys is a bit more user friendly and less chiseled than the Barbeito, if memory serves.

If you like em dry and acidic, you might also try experimenting with the 1927 D'Oliveira Bastardo.

[Isaac Krauss]

Hi Andy,

Of all post-1900 sercials at D'Oliveira's, 1937 was much my favorite. It was not especially dry, but altogether it had superb qualitites. Sometimes sercials fail me in having a flat alcoholic finish, and that was not the case with the '37.

-Isaac

[Roy Hersh]

For an inexpensive (relatively speaking here) entree to Sercial, I'd recommend the 1969 by D'Oliveiras. Excellent typicity of Sercial, imo.