TN: Manuel Eugenio Fernandes More Than 40 Years Old Verdelho

[Glenn E.]

2009 Port Gala
Friday, January 30th, Madeira tasting
Flight 1: Mystery Madeira, 1960 Leacock's Terrantez

Manuel Eugenio Fernandez More Than 40 Years Old Verdelho
This is the 48-year old version. There is also a 52-year old version.

Easily the lightest in color of all the Madeiras. It is tan, almost yellow.

Surprise! It smells like Madeira.

Tons of citrus, much of it lemon. Very zingy. This is medium dry? *pucker*

My least favorite of the Madeiras, mostly due to the fact that it was easily the driest of the 7 we tasted.

[Alan Gardner]

Thanks for posting Glenn - I was still getting my act together to post on the Madeiras.
My notes also say bottled 2002.

In common with pretty much all the 'less than 100-yr-old' madeiras the overriding flavor component was lemon (the older wines had more tangerine and orange components).
I also had this as my least favourite (for drinking now) - but with a note that it needed more time (lots!). The lemon was more like candy on the nose, as if it hadn't fully madeirized, while the taste reminded me strongly of Limonata - one of my favourite beverages - but not what I want in a madeira.

[Eric Ifune]

I've had this several times before, and this was the least best bottle. I'm not sure if it was just the company it was with. The other Madeiras were older and sweeter versions. If it were with only other Verdelhos, I think it would have shown better.

[Richard Beeken]

I like this better than most, I think - intense, cola, rock candy, citrus, very long - lots here - interesting - I rated this bottle slightly lower than on the last occasion I had it but enjoyed it very much - 92 pts