Brown Glass Madeira

[Peter T.]

I just tried the 1937 D´Oliveiras Sercial and thought the brown glass bottle deserved comment. One of the reasons I can imagine for brown glass instead of the more common green glass is that it blocks more UV light than green glass. If this is the reason the shipper chose brown glass, I think it makes an interesting comment about possible madeira bottle variation in the same lot. That is to say, if the shipper chose brown glass for UV blockage then they are concerned about UV effects on madeira in bottle and by inference, that some bottles could have been or might be affected.

Any ideas? Has anybody spoken to any shippers about this?

[Andy Velebil]

Peter,
The first question to ask is, "What year was this bottled in?" As that may play a roll in what color glass was used.

[Peter T.]

It was bottled in 2011, Andy.

[Roy Hersh]

Andy was thinking that it was possibly bottled during WWII because Port bottled during the war years, especially 1945 Vintage Ports are almost exclusively bottled in brown glass as the green and black glass were used during the war effort and in very short supply to the trade. But Madeira must sit in wood for 20 years to be considered a "frasqueira" or vintage Madeira, so there's no way it would have been bottled during the war years, unless one would consider, the Cold War.

But Madeira is different. There is no rhyme or reason for a recent bottling to be in brown glass other than an experiment by the producer. Maybe they wound up getting a good deal on the brown glass.

[Andy Velebil]

Actually yes and no. Even after the war years it was, at times, difficult to get glass bottles in Portugal. So producers often got-what-they-got. Why you sometimes see different bottles for the same VP bottled in Oporto.

One logically would conclude getting them on the island would be equally as difficult during the same times.

[Peter T.]

Here is the tasting note:

D´Oliveiras Sercial 1937
Bottled 2011
Decanted 24 hours

Appearance- Medium intensity reddish amber with green-tinged rim
Nose- Medium intensity nose of caramel, citrus, and acetone with light VA. Chocolate aromas unusual for Sercial.
Palate- Medium-bodied, off-dry, high acid building on the finish. Citrus notes on the palate- dried orange peel and lemon drops with caramel. Well integrated alcohol, long length, moderate complexity. Seems austere even for a Sercial.

4 out of 5 stars.

[Roy Hersh]

Thanks Peter!

Just curious, how long have you owned the bottle?

[Peter T.]

I believe I bought it from RWC in the last six months, Roy.

I am eager to be a part of the tasting in San Francisco. Please keep me on the list.