NV Leacock's Velho Verdellho (circa 1900)

[Justin A]

Hi guys,
Just bought a few 1 liter bottles of this curiosity. Anyone know about it? A simple search shows about 200 of these were auctioned off a few years back at Christies or Sothebys. Anyone have any impressions?

Thanks
J

[Barry Sunderland]

Leacocks-Velho-Verdelho-Madeira Bottled between 1885-1905. This was initially opened for our tasting group on Tuesday night but it was not decanted. I explained to the bottle's owner that it really needed several days of decanting. I wrapped my glass and took it home and let it sit for the past 2.5 day and now at 6:30 this a.m. I am finishing it off before heading to LA. Amber orange color with a broad gold rim. Lively scents of walnut skin, lemon furniture polish, Medium-weight but ultralight in the mouth and much more Sercial like than Verdelho. Dry and with such intense acidity but although there's a nice mélange of dried apricot, cashew and a grapefruit pith element, there not the finely knit layers and swirling tension that I love about Madeira. Still tasty and I'm happy to try this, but it lacked the tangy excitement I had hoped for. The finish is medium long and ends with a slightly bitter coffee flavor.
88 Points (2010-03-05)

Roy's notes, not mine.

[Andreas Platt]

Justin,

how much are these - if I may ask?

Thanks

[Justin A]

Thanks Barry! Will pop one in a couple weeks once they settle and report back with my notes. Andreas, I bought them for around $200 per.

J

[Justin A]

These boys have landed!!! Cant wait to take em out of the box and have a look!

[Barry Sunderland]

These boys have landed!!! Cant wait to take em out of the box and have a look!

Justin,

Well, how do they look? Condition?

[Justin A]

They look pretty cool! Kind of oval shaped glass, difficult to describe but kind of reminiscent of an old medicine bottle. Glass is very dingy/grainy from age. Fills are superb. Based on appearance, im quite happy.

[Justin A]

So,
Decided to open this last night and have a look inside. Was going to post notes on it, until I looked at Barrys notes higher up in this thread. I say he is 100% spot on. I remember my first thought about this was thinking to myself that this must be a Sercial, not a Verdelho. Aside from what he said, this had some vigorous alcohol and not much of a finish. Some furniture spray/bugspray notes upon first pour that quickly gave way to a deeper alcohol laced high pitched varnishy nose. This was a pop and pour. I have about 90% of the bottle remaining. Gonna let this air out and try again over the next couple weeks. Also of interest was the color. It doesnt appear to have had much time in the cask due to the brightness of its color. Tasted side by side with a '68 D'Oliveiras Boal which was a few shades darker in color.

[Barry Sunderland]

J-Man,

How is this showing now?

[Justin A]

Barry,
So funny you asked...Was drinking it while carving up a paleta of Pata Negra tonight. The pairing of Madeira and Jamon is brilliant. Acidity of Madeira cleanses the palate of the richness of the Jamon. The VV has gone from a pimple-faced awkward adolescent to a swan. This wine, now opened for a few weeks has rounded/fleshed out and completely divorced itself of the bug spray aromas I described upon opening instead gaining lemon zest and almonds. The wine has flesh and grip and what it lacks on dimension it makes up for on very balanced acidity with the limited richness. Somewhat one dimensional, though I recall the alcohol being much more noticeable when I opened it... I didnt have the first clue what to do with the other bottles I bought because I just didn't think they were for me based on how this bottle performed upon opening. Now, after a couple weeks, I think ill hang on to them and enjoy them from time to time as something of a pleasurable curiosity, rather than a hedonistic satisfaction.