For The Love Of Port

I have had lots of Port, Douro wine, Burgundy and Chablis in the past few weeks but am craving Madeira.

I must cure this and today I'll have to try something interesting. In fact, I don't think I will wait until this evening. More later ...

Been working in New Mexico the past couple of weeks and have been subsisting on beer mainly. I know what you mean. Will remedy this in another week.

OK, so as I said, Madeira was severely lacking in my life and I was jonesing some. I went to a trade tasting yesterday, my first day back from Portugal, (Germany), UK & France where I had just about everything EXCEPT Madeira. I had the opportunity to taste three bottles of Madeira:

a. Broadbent 5 Year Reserve Madeira - a smooth, simple and tasty number

b. Broadbent 1996 Colheita Madeira - a mix of TNM & Bual, which was unctuous and really impressive on the palate.

c. Broadbent 10 year old Malmsey - what's not to love?


The 1996 won me over and was the only one that I had a second glass of. Very concentrated and good complexity given its youth. I see this as a Frasqueira someday.

I had a 1996 Broadbent sweet colheita in 2008 or 2009. The back label said that it was a blend of four grapes: TNM, complexa, triunfo, and TdM. It sold out rather quickly. This sounds like another blend from the same year.

Roy Hersh wrote: The 1996 won me over and was the only one that I had a second glass of. Very concentrated and good complexity given its youth. I see this as a Frasqueira someday.

Hi Roy, Does that mean that you preferred the 1996 over the 10 year? I like the 10 year a lot, but have not tried the 1996. I just noticed that they are about the same price.

Hi Steve,

I had them both scored at 92 points, fwiw. No preference though, both were very solid but quite different. I think that the Colheita would appeal to those that are acid freaks compared to the richness and sweeter style of the Malmsey. Like I said though, both are stupendous for QPR.

I, too, had been craving madeira, but there was not one wine shop in Orlando that had a single bottle...

Wine guy: Let me check with my distributor. Give me your email address.
Me: Sure. Please send any information.

NOT ONE EVER SENDS AN EMAIL!

BUT, I was in Baldwin Park here in Orlando (the area used to be the Naval Training Center - the Naval Training Center in landlocked Orlando?) - and there is a gift shop there, Bullfish, with a decent stash of vino.

Staring at me was a Broadbent 10 year malmsey! and look... there are six more in the stack!

Needless to say I purchased one.

I also requested additional offerings and, of course, supplied my email address. Who wants to bet on whether I get an email?

I have had the 10 year before and it was - and is - very enjoyable. The only negative thing I can say is also obvious...the aroma is not as powerful and concentrated as a vintage madeira.

Now I have some madeira to enjoy while my newly arrived 1945 Cossart Gordon "Duo Centenary" bottle is resting and to be opened around the holidays. See separate thread.

Joe D'Achille
Orlando