TNR: 1900 Moscatel Cossart

David Buttimore · Post by **David Buttimore** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 11:38 am

Hello,

I've just bought some 1900 Moscatel by Cossart Gordon.
I have yet to try a Moscatel madeira so was wondering what to expect.
Apparently it spent 85 years in barrel prior to being bottled.
As you can imagine my expectations are high but I was wondering if anyone here has had any experience with this particular madeira?

Thanks,
Dave.

Tom Chadwick · Post by **Tom Chadwick** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 6:02 am

Hi Dave

I tried some the other day and they blew my mind!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sadly I don't have my notes but I will try and send you some info soon. Not having drank much madeia I don't thnk my notes will be much good but perhaps give you an idea

All the best

Tom Chadwick

Post by **Roy Hersh** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 10:36 am

Tom,

I have not had that exact wine and the only Moscatel's I can remember tasting (I do have TNs) are:

1900 D'Oliveira Moscatel
1875 D'Oliveira Moscatel
1870 Velho Moscatel
1856 Barbeito Moscatel

If you'd like TN on any of these, I can let you know where they are.

Reidar Andersen · Post by **Reidar Andersen** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 12:16 am

I wonder if this wine is on of those MWC bought from D'Oliveiras 1984-85 like the 1882 V, 1899 T and 1910 S.

I and many others have tried to find out more about these wines from Luis and Anibal d'Oliveira with no luck. Looks like they don't want to talk about.

If it indeed i is a d'Oliveira 1900 Moscatel, I simply say, thisis one of the best wins I ever have tasted... Though also remember I have "a sweet tooth"

David Buttimore · Post by **David Buttimore** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 12:50 am

Thanks chaps,

Reidar it may well be similar. I'm not at home at the moment so can't look at the bottles to be sure, but there doesn't seem to be AOSM painted on them. I do have 4 bottles of the 1882 Verdelho you mention, which from memory is labelled Cossart (again I'd have to check to be sure). They definately do have AOSM painted on them. It may be that they bought the Moscatel in cask and the Verdelho already bottled. Either way, I hope the Mosacatel is originally from d'Olivera as it sounds like a great wine.

Tom, was it a Cossart labelled one, or another 1900 Moscatel. From what Reidar is saying they could well be the same. I hope so as the notes for the d'Olivera sound great. As an aside, are you associated with J Straker Chadwick at all? I followed a link you posted to their web site & placed a written bid on some Blandy 1870 Terrantez -- unfortunately I learned yesterday that I was outbid! But I'll be taking an interest in future auctions

Roy, I'd be interested in your 1900 d'Olivera tasting note for obvious reasons.

Cheers, Dave.

Post by **Roy Hersh** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 3:03 am

Glad to oblige, albeit the TN is 2 years old:

1900 D'Oliveira Moscatel - Dark coffee color with a yellow/greenish edge. Lacks the depth of aromatics of the 1900 Barbeito Malvasia, but still offers fragrant fig and mocha notes. This followed two incredible glasses of Malmsey and could not size up to their footprints. As expected, a sweeter profile with just enough acidity to provide proper balance. Although it delivered all of the essentials, it lacked verve and the elaborate characteristics shown by the majority of the other wines above. I know that it is considered one of the great wines from this renowned vintage, but this bottle didn't do it for me. I did enjoy the graceful mocha and butterscotch flavors of this Moscatel and the aftertaste offered medium length, with chocolate on the aftertaste. 90 pts. October 2004

Reidar Andersen · Post by **Reidar Andersen** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 10:44 am

Dave

They repainted the AO-SM bottles after a while. I bought them in Funchal Dec. 1985 with AO-SM on. Later they changed it to Cossart Gordon and Blandy's. A few years ago they repinted them again, changed the 1910 Sercial from Cossaert Gordon to Balndy's ( or vice versa ).

Little bit of terpentine and new fresh letters

Note: I have no idea about the facts of the 1900 Moscatel. Just a guess.

Reidar

David Buttimore · Post by **David Buttimore** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 11:10 am

Thanks Roy & Reidar,

I think the proof is in the drinking, and since I've acquired two bottles I think I'll pull the cork on one soon. One bottle has signs of a little bit of seepage although the fill level is still base of neck. I can also smell the wine slightly, and from what I can make out it bodes very well ineed

Cheers, Dave.

BB · Post by BB » Thu Nov 30, 2006 7:00 am

David,I had a bottle several years ago,and while it was quite good,and IMO most Moscatels are always in my pleasure wheelhouse,it was somewhat monochromatic.....especially compared to the d'Oliveiras......and especially the '75,a real dream of a Madeira.

Dave Buttimore · Post by **Dave Buttimore** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 7:49 am

BB,

Thanks for the comment. I intend opening a bottle during the Christmas period. I will post comments on it when I do.

... must keep an eye out for the d'Olivera '75

Dave.

David Buttimore · Post by **David Buttimore** » Fri Dec 29, 2006 4:03 am

Well, I opened the 1900 on Christmas day, and I have to say it was wonderful. Hugely complex, and reasonably sweet but not overly so - just right in fact. All the flavours you would want from an old madeira.
Worth every penny of what I paid and more, and I'll definately be drinking the other bottle that I have.

I also opened a bottle of 1940 Sercial from Justinho Henriques for myself and a few friends a week or so ago. It looked like it had been bottled for quite a while. I'm guessing sometime in the 1970's. Anyway, this is another stunning madeira. It was very slightly cloudy in colour, but the wine was 100% ok. Definately not dry in the conventional sense, and wonderful complexity again. A couple of friends whom I drank it with had not experienced a vintage madeira before, and they were blown away by it.

From a points out of 100 point of view, I'd say both are mid-90's.

Cheers, Dave B.