Nervous first post - advice for a newbie please

[Tim Nicholson]

Whilst I'm a single malt whisky uber-geek, I only tasted my first (young) Madeiras last week during visits to Funchal Wine Lodges. I loved the expressions that I got to try (mainly 5yos, but including one 10yo and a 1984 Colheita). But I'm wondering whether that was more the atmospheric surroundings than what was poured from the bottles.

So, having now returned to the UK, I'd like to try a few more Madeiras and see what I think of them. Where should I start please? Waitrose appears to have a few expressions in stock. Should they maybe be my first port of call?

[Peter Reutter]

From what I found at their uk-website this looks like a good start. from blandy alvada to H&H 15YO is a fair variety to start with. If you want to learn more, check out the MadeiraWineGuide
Peter

[Andy Velebil]

Tim,
Let me first say to the Forum and very happy to hear you had a nice time on the island. Since I don't live in the UK I can't really help in pointing you to a particular store in your area, but hopefully some of our UK based folks can.

But I'm wondering whether that was more the atmospheric surroundings than what was poured from the bottles.

Nope, welcome to world of a wine that flies under most people radar but is deliciously good.

[Tim Nicholson]

Hi there

Many thanks for the warm greeting. I think that what attracts me to Madeira, like maybe to Single Malt Scotch Whisky, is the history and the heritage. From a taste perspective, I quite surprised myself. Although I've an uber-sweet tooth, I normally drink very dry wine. But, with Madeira, I was instantly drawn to "Malmesey" By contrast, my wife preferred "Verdelho" (forgive mis-spellings).

There were hushed mentions in the Wine Lodges of "Terrantez" (again, please forgive spelling) although we didn't taste any. Is this a rarer variant?

Tim

[Roy Hersh]

Hi Tim,

Like you I typically like my wine dry, but at the same time, I also appreciate many varieties of dessert and fortified wines as well, which of course are quite sweet.

When it come to Madeira, I was originally way into Malmsey ( = Malvasia/Malvazia) and Bual (Boal). Over the years my preferences have switched and while I certainly still love the sweet Madeira offerings, now find that I am more enthralled with the drier versions of Sercial, Verdelho and Terrantez, the latter of which is my favorite grape of all (on the planet). Unfortunately, Terrantez was all but extinct, like Bastardo which is almost non-existent and the last bottlings of Bastardo were from the 1927 vintage.

Terrantez is trying to make a slow and small comeback. While there was next to no production of it on the island for many years, a few have tried to plant some new vines and production has reached about 200 liters per year on the island. It is a thin-skinned and fickle grape that is very susceptible to disease and especially oidium and mildew. It is not financially prudent for most to try to replant Terrantez as it is not what one would call "financially sustainable" given the costs involved. I spent my entire first week on the island, lobbying the powers that be and a variety of producers to begin a replanting effort to save the Terrantez grape. I left feeling like I'd run into a brick wall, face first.

Old Terrantez bottlings are some of the most complex, ethereal and transcendent wines ever bottled and when you drink them 200+ years old and they are as fresh as any young Madeira ... you know there's something amazing about the grape itself and Madeira in general.

Thanks for coming to and we are pleased to have you join in and continue the great Madeira discussion, anytime!

[Eric Ifune]

I understand that Patrick Grubb usually has an excellent selection in the UK.

[Tim Nicholson]

Many thanks. My local supermarket has "D'Oliveras Terrantez Reserva 1977" for around £50, so I might make that my first foray into the world of Madeira.

[Roy Hersh]

Tim,

Not to discourage your purchase, but the 1977 D'Oliveiras is a very solid but not "great" bottling of Terrantez and if you can find it for similar money, imho, the Cossart Gordon 1977 Terrantez is a significant step up in drinking pleasure. I can provide you with some past TN's on either or both, if interested? That being said, the D'Olly is certainly one I'd be happy to try anytime!