One of the shops was ?**? Wine Merchants, a shop I had never been in. I was immediately impressed by the layout of the store and the varieties of wine not offered by my usual wine merchant, Tim's Wine (about two miles away in the Lake Ivanhoe district, closer to downtown). I was browsing and found a decent dessert wine section where my wife spotted the one vin santo selection and I spied two madeiras (rather typical though). I made my way to the counter at the rear of the store and introduced myself to the proprietor.
"What vintage madeira selections might you be able to get in the store?"
"Just a minute," was the reply. The fellow goes into the back room and reappears with a bottle in each hand.
"I have these from my private cellar, which I am trying to sell off."
BINGO! PLAYER CALLING BINGO! {D'Olivera off the port (pun intended)bow!}
The proprietor has a 19?? Boal (have had 2 bottles) and a 19?? Sercial (never had before).
I asked him the price and there was not much haggling, except that he needed cash or a check since they were not store inventory. The wife, who thankfully encourages my lust for Frasqueira, agreed the price was excellent. Unfortunately, I did not have a check and do not usually walk around with $???.?? on me.
I have plans to return today to buy up both bottles. Details to be disclosed later.
Joe D'Achille
Orlando
