TN: Miguel Jardim Reserva Boal Velho

[Eric Ifune]

Rebottled 1969. From the Henriques & Henriques cellars. Miguel Jardim was a director at one time I believe.
Considerable sediment coating the bottle surface. Top shoulder fill.
Bright. Copper-bronze color with an olive oil rim.
Meaty aromas with some VA. Toffee, dried fruits, toasted nut.
More Verdelho in weight, but with proper Boal sweetness. Excellent balance however. Good zippy acidity which was lacking in a bottle I opened several years ago. Reasonable length. Not the depth or complexity for great.
A nice lighter styled Boal. I appreciated the acidity. One could almost substitute this for a good Verdelho.
I'd give this bottle 92 points.

[Barry Sunderland]

Eric,

Any idea what era this comes from?

[Eric Ifune]

I believe it's supposed to be 19th Century, but if so, I think a long time in bottle or demijohns. If in cask, I'd think it would have had more concentration.
Not sure if this is supposed to be the same wine as the Miguel Jardim Henriques & Henriques Boal Velho which was 19th century, bought by H&H in 1906 and bottled in 1927.

[Alan Gardner]

Miguel is still a Director (I believe). Certainly he still represents H&H (and Belem) in Ontario, where he still lives (fort many years now).
A few years back he 'culled' his personal cellar and sold off Madeiras he believed would not improve any further. That doesn't help with the bottling date but is a guide to maturity. Most of these are wines 'for drinking now' or relatively short-term (in his opinion).
The irony here in Ontario is that it was illegal to sell (or buy) them here, so I had to acquire mine outside Canada and re-import them!