For The Love Of Port

I wanted to let you know that Broadbent 5 Year Reserve and Broadbent 10 year Malmsey are now both available at Berry Bros in the UK. They were put on the shelves this week for the first time.

I know that some of our British based Forumites have been eager to taste it, so you can now go and grab cases of it. I'd be interested to know what the shelf price may wind up being, but if it is less than GBP 20, it is a case buy. If it is approaching 25 pounds, try a bottle for yourself first.

The Broadbent 10 year old Malmsey remains my house Madeira and for a good reason!

Shelf price for the Broadbent 10 year old Malmsey in the UK is £26 per single bottle or £23.35 per bottle by the dozen.

I might try one one day, but only if they don't have any ports that are more interesting to me. The choice is 1 bottle of 10 year old Malmsey or 2 bottles of Noval Unfiltered LBV 2001

Alex

I've had both several times - the 5 year-old MANY times.
All of my madeira group bought the 5 year-old heavily about 5 years ago.
HOWEVER the subsequent release (in Ontario 2-3 years ago) was a very different wine. Much less complexity and tasted dull - compared with the brightness of the original purchase.
My advice is to try one bottle and try it. If good - buy a case (I bought several) - it was far superior to the available 15-yr olds (at the time). But just don't know what happened in the next batch. Just wasn't the same wine!

Alan Gardner

I should have posted this before. I tested Broadbent 10 year Malmsey ( bought in San Fransisco Sept. 2006 ) last winter against Justino's 10 year Malmsey bottled June 2006.

Both were very good and I could not see/taste any difference. I wonder do you have the Justino's in Britain ?

Reidar,

I have had both side by side too. I wonder if it is possible for a special bottling like the Broadbent 10 year old to be the indentical juice put in Justino's, or if the IVM would object to that practice? It seems they would, but I don't know the Madeira regulations like I do those of Port wine.

It is a pleasure having you back here as I need you and Peter to help me hold down the fort and provide your brilliant responses re: Madeira.

Thanks and have a great summer! I very much look forward to your answer from A.L. on the other topic. Should be fascinating as all I could do was offer a response based on observations and reading ... whereas A.L. and Mannie Berk would know off the top of their head. I am still waiting to see if Peter would know.

I spoke to both Bartholomew and Michael about these (they were in Toronto for a special tasting).
They claimed that these were 'specially' blended for Broadbent (I don't recall who did the selection, but I think it was Michael).
Of course, this was for the initial batch we received in Canada. Assuming these are bottled 'as required' it wouldn't necessarily be "specially selected" for subsequent bottlings - which could explain the significant difference I found in the subsequent shipment (this applies to the 5 yr-old).

Alan Gardner

Alan,

You know, I have been to Justino's in the past and they had huge stacks of the Broadbent Madeira lineup. Michael definitely did the first selection and hopefully the blend won't change much!