What's a good "daily drinker" Madeira?

This forum is for discussing all things Madeira - vintages, recommendations, tasting notes, etc.

Moderators: Glenn E., Roy Hersh, Andy Velebil

Post Reply
User avatar
Andy Velebil
Posts: 16810
Joined: Tue Aug 02, 2005 4:49 pm
Location: Los Angeles, California, United States of America - USA
Contact:

What's a good "daily drinker" Madeira?

Post by Andy Velebil »

While we all love those really old Madeira's most people aren't able to drink them regularly. Most people drink younger ones, such as 5, 10, or 15 year old's, or a very young single vintage Madeira, or even a Rainwater. My question is, what are your favorites in what would be considered this "daily drinker" category?
Andy Velebil Good wine is a good familiar creature if it be well used. William Shakespeare http://www.fortheloveofport.com
User avatar
Eric Ifune
Posts: 3533
Joined: Tue Aug 02, 2005 8:02 pm
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, United States of America - USA

Re: What's a good "daily drinker" Madeira?

Post by Eric Ifune »

Like The Rare Wine Co. Boston Bual, Broadbent 10 yo Malmsey, Cossart 10 yo Malmsey and Boal.
Marco D.
Posts: 940
Joined: Thu Aug 04, 2005 10:04 am
Location: Milford, Connecticut, United States of America - USA

Re: What's a good "daily drinker" Madeira?

Post by Marco D. »

Probably the Cossart Gordon 15Y Bual and the Blandy's 5Y Bual...
Marco DeFreitas Connecticut, USA
Gary Banker
Posts: 665
Joined: Tue Mar 07, 2006 6:08 pm
Location: Shirley, Massachusetts, United States of America - USA

Re: What's a good "daily drinker" Madeira?

Post by Gary Banker »

Borges 10 year malmsey and H&H 10-year sercial and verdelho (15 year if there is a sale).

As a more expensive alternative, I would nominate Barbeito VB.
Gary Banker
Posts: 665
Joined: Tue Mar 07, 2006 6:08 pm
Location: Shirley, Massachusetts, United States of America - USA

Re: What's a good "daily drinker" Madeira?

Post by Gary Banker »

Marco D. wrote:Probably the Cossart Gordon 15Y Bual and the Blandy's 5Y Bual...
I have not tried (or even seen) the Cossart Gordon 15 year bual. The 10 year bual is very good.
Steve Pollack
Posts: 336
Joined: Mon Mar 30, 2009 2:15 pm
Location: Oak Park, CA, USA

Re: What's a good "daily drinker" Madeira?

Post by Steve Pollack »

Broadbent 10 yo Malmsey, an excellent Madeira for the money.
Moses Botbol
Posts: 6033
Joined: Wed Aug 30, 2006 7:38 am
Location: Boston, USA

Re: What's a good "daily drinker" Madeira?

Post by Moses Botbol »

Steve Pollack wrote:Broadbent 10 yo Malmsey, an excellent Madeira for the money.
Even their entry 5 year "rainwater" is quite solid for the money
Welsh Corgis | F1 |British Cars
User avatar
Roy Hersh
Site Admin
Posts: 21821
Joined: Thu Jul 28, 2005 1:27 am
Location: Porto, PT
Contact:

Re: What's a good "daily drinker" Madeira?

Post by Roy Hersh »

The Broadbent Madeira bottlings are all produced by Justino's, but it is amazing that the name Justino's is almost never mentioned on this site. Very rare, yet they are likely the largest producer on the island in terms of sheer liquid volume. How come we never talk about them? [shrug.gif]

To answer the question, I also love the H.M. Borges 15 year old Malmsey for an excellent QPR bottling. That said, I drink more Broadbent 10 year old Malmsey than any other inexpensive Madeira and have been touting that nectar since I discovered it around 1997.
Ambition driven by passion, rather than money, is as strong an elixir as is Port. http://www.fortheloveofport.com
Moses Botbol
Posts: 6033
Joined: Wed Aug 30, 2006 7:38 am
Location: Boston, USA

Re: What's a good "daily drinker" Madeira?

Post by Moses Botbol »

Roy Hersh wrote:The Broadbent Madeira bottlings are all produced by Justino's, but it is amazing that the name Justino's is almost never mentioned on this site.
Without question, Justino is the most popular brand of Madeira around MA. Mostly the Rainwater and 5 year, but if there's one brand on the shelf, it is that. Whatever blends Broadbent gets from them, they are quite different than what is under the Justino label.

The New Bedford Madeira Festival serves Justino righ out of the barrel, in keg cup. :D
Welsh Corgis | F1 |British Cars
User avatar
Roy Hersh
Site Admin
Posts: 21821
Joined: Thu Jul 28, 2005 1:27 am
Location: Porto, PT
Contact:

Re: What's a good "daily drinker" Madeira?

Post by Roy Hersh »

Last time we went to Justino, I asked ahead of time for our tasting to include a couple of Broadbent bottlings vs. their Justino siblings. This was part of a large tasting but the comparison provided excellent proof that as you say, there was a definitive distinction between the two styles. I'd read elsewhere about individuals who believed they were one and the same. Clearly not the case when involved in the empirical evidence. :winebath:

I would imagine that the Justino importer is either located in MA or NY/NJ and that is the reason why you see so much there in the East coast, or at least in the Boston area. We see next to none out here on the left coast, albeit Broadbent is available.
Ambition driven by passion, rather than money, is as strong an elixir as is Port. http://www.fortheloveofport.com
Miguel Simoes
Posts: 707
Joined: Tue Apr 19, 2011 10:27 am
Location: New York, NY, USA

Re: What's a good "daily drinker" Madeira?

Post by Miguel Simoes »

Changing gears a little...

My first contact w Madeira was w a bottle of Leacock's Rainwater that, a few weeks after first opening it, was really quite nice for its v inexpensive price.

I since bought a bottle of Blandy's Rainwater and it has been a disappointment. Really feels like someone poured water over madeira...

Is this something you have also found?

Which is your favorite Rainwater?
Ray Barnes
Posts: 767
Joined: Thu Nov 13, 2008 12:43 am
Location: Surrey, British Columbia, Canada

Re: What's a good "daily drinker" Madeira?

Post by Ray Barnes »

At the risk of going a bit off topic, I don't have a daily drinker madeira here, at the moment. I am alternating between Fonseca 2003 LBV (which is excellent and drinking well now) and now Scharffenberger Methode Traditionelle Brut Excellence sparkling wine (two thirds chardonnay one third pinot noir, also very nice). They both do a fine job of elevating one's spirits and fighting the winter damp chill.
Moses Botbol
Posts: 6033
Joined: Wed Aug 30, 2006 7:38 am
Location: Boston, USA

Re: What's a good "daily drinker" Madeira?

Post by Moses Botbol »

Anyone drink Sandeman's Rainwater recently?
Welsh Corgis | F1 |British Cars
Post Reply