For The Love Of Port

I just finished the last of my Broadbent 5 yr. I enjoyed the Madeira, but I realize that I need to step up to a 10 year to get a proper introduction to Madeira. I almost bought a bottle of Rare Wine Co. historic series but I wasn't sure that it would have 10yrs of age. Bradley, told me on Saturday that RWC is legit when it comes to quality Madeira, but I wonder what people on this forum would recommend as a good "first step" into Madeira?

Hi Lindsay,

Personally, I actually cannot say I've had a lot of the Broadbent 5 yr or 10 yr madeiras, so this reply isn't to compare those madeiras to the RWC series. However, I am replying to vouch for the RWC series as a good place to be for madeira enjoyment. Granted, they are not the most INexpensive bottles out there, either, but they are quite good. They are also made in a bit of an older style, which for me is a good thing. They still need some decanting, even though they are younger, and definitely taste better with more air interaction.

So without being able to know what taste you might like given the bottle you just finished, I would still recommend the RWC series. I will let others who are more familiar with the 5yr and 10 yr Broadbents let you know which specifically of the RWC series might best be a bridge for you and your tastebuds, but you probably can't go too wrong for that to be a next step.

Enjoy!

Your best bets are Broadbent 10 or D'Oliveira's 10 Demi Sec by far. RWC Historic series are nice, but the two mentioned really knock it out of the park for price and quality.

IMHO Broadbent 1996 Colhieta is a touch above the Broadbent 10 year bottlings, and the same price in my area. Won't go wrong with either though.

Bradley Bogdan wrote:IMHO Broadbent 1996 Colhieta is a touch above the Broadbent 10 year bottlings, and the same price in my area. Won't go wrong with either though.

IMHO, the 10-year Malmsey is better than the '96 Colheita...better acidity and depth. Other people believe this, as well. Just ask them!

Barry Sunderland wrote:

Bradley Bogdan wrote:IMHO Broadbent 1996 Colhieta is a touch above the Broadbent 10 year bottlings, and the same price in my area. Won't go wrong with either though.

IMHO, the 10-year Malmsey is better than the '96 Colheita...better acidity and depth. Other people believe this, as well. Just ask them!

Would have to agree

Not a ton of experience but have grown to appreciate the broadbent 10yr malmsey.

At first found it crazy acidic but over time, and letting it breathe a few days after opening the bottle (decanting might not be a bad idea, actually), i find that I really enjoy it.

Only wish it were a bit cheaper. Cheapest I can find it is around $40 and at that price can also get a bottle of 20 yr Andresen port, which i would argue compares favorably. That is, unless it is crazy hot out and you really need some acidity...

Miguel Simoes wrote:Not a ton of experience but have grown to appreciate the broadbent 10yr malmsey.

At first found it crazy acidic but over time, and letting it breathe a few days after opening the bottle (decanting might not be a bad idea, actually), i find that I really enjoy it.

Only wish it were a bit cheaper. Cheapest I can find it is around $40 and at that price can also get a bottle of 20 yr Andresen port, which i would argue compares favorably. That is, unless it is crazy hot out and you really need some acidity...

You should be able to get it for low 30's if you have a liquor store who'll do you a favor.

thanks for the recommendations. I'm in Kentucky until the 26th and they don't even have a single Madeira at the mega Liquor Barn... so I'll have to wait until I get back to Seattle... A couple of friends sent me their Bourbon wish lists that included many 10+ yr aged bourbons including Pappy and others. Nothing to be found. You'd think that one could at least get an awesome bottle of bourbon by traveling all the way to Kentucky, but apparently not. It's like trying to find a quality baking potato in Idaho...impossible because all the good ones get shipped to Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles....

And here, all along, I thought Idaho's best tubers went to Tacoma!?!?!

Lindsay E. wrote:thanks for the recommendations. I'm in Kentucky until the 26th and they don't even have a single Madeira at the mega Liquor Barn... so I'll have to wait until I get back to Seattle... A couple of friends sent me their Bourbon wish lists that included many 10+ yr aged bourbons including Pappy and others. Nothing to be found. You'd think that one could at least get an awesome bottle of bourbon by traveling all the way to Kentucky, but apparently not. It's like trying to find a quality baking potato in Idaho...impossible because all the good ones get shipped to Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles....

Clearly not looking in the right places then, I had as many as I could handle when I was living in Boise! You just had to know a guy who knows a guy... Haha