For The Love Of Port

And his new book on Madeira will be released in the US on the 15th!

Roy Hersh wrote:http://www.richardmayson.com/Madeira_Wi ... _Malvasia/

How I wish I'd been there.... (sic)

May be next time?

Peter

Do you agree with Mayson's very good, but not great, assessment on the Barbeito 1880 Malvasia?

I had the 1880 Barbeito Malvasia from demijohn on the Madeirathon tour last May. It was incredible. It showed a more muted quality at the Malvasia tasting in New York. Richard Diogo thought that it was tasting great considering that it was relatively recently bottled. So I am very hopeful that it will return to its glory!

I believe the 1880 RR was in the top 3 of quite a few people, and Ricardo did mention that opening this bottle only a couple months after bottling is actually not recommended at all. He thought that this wasn't showing nearly as well as it could, and David's opinion above certainly validates that. (I never had the opportunity to taste it from demijohn, but I heard stories!) Additionally, because it was only bottled a couple months earlier, it wasn't opened and decanted for nearly as long as other bottles (Richard references it was opened that same morning), but after tasting it, Ricardo mentioned that he probably should have figured out a way for it to be opened and decanted much earlier. Funny how there was bottle stink after only a couple months in bottle, but I guess it happens!

I will say that before I knew anything about its background, I was impressed by it when I tasted it, and very much enjoyed it. (although it wasn't quite in the flavor profile of most other malvasias in that it wasn't quite as sweet as others - a note also in Richard's TN, I think.) When I heard that this wonderful drink was NOT showing as well as it could, it really got me excited about the wine enough to press Ricardo and Mannie when it would be available! (Which should be later this year!)

Most people had the 1880 MMV as excellent, the top wine of the first four; although I slightly perfered the 1882. Ricardo thought the 1880 would improve, especially after some aeration.
I think the vast majority of the wines showed very well with the overall quality of wines quite high. When all the wines show well, you sort of nit-pick.

Eric Ifune wrote:I think the vast majority of the wines showed very well with the overall quality of wines quite high.

Agreed! It was a very consistently excellent tasting.

Strange when I read Eric's post, I instantly ordered it at US Amazon... They could not deliver. . Today I ordered it at a Norwegian web-shop... They confirmed delivery within 7 day..

David Spriggs wrote:I had the 1880 Barbeito Malvasia from demijohn on the Madeirathon tour last May. It was incredible. It showed a more muted quality at the Malvasia tasting in New York. Richard Diogo thought that it was tasting great considering that it was relatively recently bottled. So I am very hopeful that it will return to its glory!

Im gonna have a talk with Ricardo. He needs to start selling us these wines by Demijohn rather than by bottle.

Great idea Justin!

I'll take one too.

I know a Russian friend in CA who would also be thrilled with a full demijohn.

Got the book today, and I love it... Will enjoy it sitting in the shadow behind the house..

I just need to find the time to sit down and read this now!