For The Love Of Port

The bottle states this has more than 40 years of age. Light brown mahogany color. The nose has some vanilla, oak, shoe polish, and orange peel. On the palate there is a laser beam of acidity that cuts across the tongue. Some heat with lemon and more orange peel. Long mouth watering finish.

Kris,

Glad you liked it and it certainly is not a shy or reserved bottling. Really zippy acidity!

There are two different bottlings: one that has sat in cask for 52 years which some prefer, but I like this one, with 48 years in cask that was bottled in time for Manuel's 96th birthday bash a few year's back. The "48" has just a bit more "cut" imo, but there is not a huge qualitative difference in these two bottlings. I know that Eric prefers the 52 year old. I can't wait to revisit the brothers and buy a few more bottles this year, as it is next to impossible to find outside of their small adega.

Roy, is the 52-yr old the one that you served me the night that we had the Brunheda Colheita and that South African Chenin Blanc?

My TN for this was really short - probably due to it being my 8th glass of the night - but I also noted amazing amounts of acidity. Lots of lemon, lots of citrus.

What was interesting for me about this bottle was that, unlike other Madeiras, this still seemed like a drink. I find that most Madeiras are so savory that they cause a disconnect in my head - they just don't feel like a drink to me. This one still did, albeit one that was exceptionally tangy.