What Madeira Have You Opened This Week?

[Eric Ifune]

1978 Barbeito Boal

[Miguel Simoes]

Didnt open them, only had a glass of each, though first first was actually opened for me!

1969 Blandy's Terrantez (yummy. super focused, reminded me of Ice Wine in that regard. Woke me up to Terrantez - it was my first taste of it)
1962 Blandy's Sercial (too acidic for my taste)

Check out page 72 of http://www.restauranthearth.com/wine.pdf. If in NYC in need of some Madeira, theirs is the best selection i have found.

[John F. Newman]

RWC Savannah Verdelho. This is my first venture into the world of madeira since... I can't remember the last time.

[Daniel Fraley]

RWC Savannah Verdelho. This is my first venture into the world of madeira since... I can't remember the last time.

Welcome back!

[Eric Ifune]

1990 Blandy's Malmsey Colheita

[Al B.]

I rarely drink Madeira, owning only 5 bottles, but opened a bottle for a great wine dinner happening in early November where it will be the only Madeira in the line-up. I've been guided by the rule discussed here that a bottle should be decanted for 1 week per decade in bttle to show at its best. The bottle I opened was a bottle of the 1792 Blandy's Bual - the one associated with the (probably untrue) story of being from a cask bought by Napoleon when he was living on St Helena.

And the small decanter sample that I had was very nice, surprising me with the sweetness and density of flavour.

[Andreas Platt]

Al,

was this a Solera or a Frasqueira?

Thanks

[Roy Hersh]

Nothing as exorbitant as what Alex has mentioned, that is for sure.

A bottle of Broadbent 10 year old Sercial.

[Al B.]

Al,

was this a Solera or a Frasqueira?

Thanks

The story is that this is the frasqueira.

The legend associated with this port is that Napoleon purchased a number of casks of Madeira when he was imprisoned on St Helena. On August 7, 1815, a British warship, the HMS Northumberland, taking Napoleon to St. Helena for his final exile stopped at Madeira to take on supplies. Napoleon was persuaded to purchase a pipe of Madeira (A pipe is a barrel containing a little less than 600 bottles). The pipe was never opened by Napoleon as he developed a severe gastric complaint and his doctors forbade him to drink any alcohol. After the ex-Emperor’s death in 1821, there was a dispute over payment of the pipe and it was returned to Madeira where it lay with Blandy’s until 1840. Most of the wine - an estimated 400 bottles - was then used to make the famous solera of 1792, but some bottles - perhaps 200 - were filled using only the wine from Napoleon’s pipe. The bottle I opened came from the cellars of Abbey Leix in Ireland, the then home of Viscount de Vesci and was identified from the cellar records as 1792 Blandy’s Madeira.

The Viscount stated that to the best of his knowledge the bottles were purchased by the de Vesci’s in the mid nineteenth century directly from Blandy’s. The bottles themselves are hand-blown black glass with deep punts, and appear to be late 18th century/early 19th century.

[Justin A]

Im really liking the '69 D'Oliveiras Sercial after 1 week of being uncorked. Funny how tastes change.

[Roy Hersh]

I like the '69 Sercial too, but it is so different than really old versions, however, the more Madeira I drink the drier I like 'em.

[Lindsay E.]

Al, can you post a picture of that bottle please?

[Moses Botbol]

D'Oliveiras 15 year. Kind of soft and does not have the acidic punch of the 10 year (which I prefer), but will happily drink the 15 year

[Gary Banker]

1929 Barbeito verdelho. Bottled in 2004. Prominent acidity and needs a little more time in the decanter.

[Eric Ifune]

1964 Broadbent Boal

[Justin A]

1988 and 1971 D'Oliveiras Terrantez. Both are outstanding right now. Im starting to appreciate Madeira on the young side these days. Refreshing, acidic, and delicious. Not the depth or intrigue as older wines, but theres certainly a time and place for each.

I do kind of feel slightly guilty drinking them so young though :)

[Barry Sunderland]

H & H Inauguration - 2008 bottling.

Rich, good acidity, and satisfying finish.

[Roy Hersh]

A pair of Madeiras today, a Blandy's Bual from 1960 and the rare bottle of Cossart Gordon's "Duo Centenary Celebration" a Bual blend supposedly from 1745-1945. All of these have been fantastic so far. Will taste them again tonight after dinner for another impression.

[Justin A]

Roy,
Would certainly love to hear about the "Duo"

[Roy Hersh]

Tasting note will be in your hands within the week.

Roy