For The Love Of Port

Has anyone tried a recent bottling of this from magnum?

No, but I own one. Don't plan to drink it until it turns 100, of course!

That being said, I've had this quite a few times from 750 and it is very good. People incorrectly write in articles that it is the oldest Madeira at the Old Blandy's Lodge. Actually it is only the oldest bottling that is commerically sold AND the oldest Madeira that the MWC still has in cask. There are caverns of older bottles there ... that very few people ever get to see, no less taste!

My favorite story about this bottling:

I walk into the Blandy's shop that was at the airport and notice the magnum of 1920 Bual. I start talking to the clerk/manager of the shop. He said, "I was pretty surprised that a guy came in and bought one earlier this morning, soon after we opened." Knowing that one of our guests had the wherewithal and passion to make such a purchase (and I knew he flew out earlier than me by a few hours), I turned away from the display and said to him, "I assume it was Eric, right?" He looked at me for a long time and with a look like this ---> said, (paraphrasing here) ... "how could you possibly know that?"

Actually, I didn't. But it was a damn good guess!

Roy, you know me too well!

I was waiting for my flight and walking around. I noticed the magnums in the shop window but it was still closed. Sitting in the terminal, I saw the lights come on in the shop. I was drawn like moths to the flame! I asked to see the magnum and weighed the risks of damage by carrying it on the plane. (This is after the security in the terminal, but I would have to reenter security in the US.) I broke down and bought it and carried it on the transatlantic flight. After I went through customs in Philadelphia I crammed the magnum into my luggage and prayed. I had another magnum of 1997 Tedo Vintage Port with it, another unplanned magnum purchase. Getting home I gingerly unpacked and viola! They were intact!

Far and away the most stress on Roy's trips are planning which wines to buy and how to get it all back! Magnums as especially stressful!

They have just over 500 liters of this still in cask. Chris Blandy hinted they would probably bottle it in 2020 and maybe some more magnums.