1850 D'Oliveira Verdelho Vintage Madeira

[Marco D.]

[Madeira @ Triomphe (New York City)]: This is more like it! Dark in color, probably spent a good amount of time in cask. Very rich and concentrated, but the richness is never overbearing as the acidity is in picture perfect balance. A bit hedonistic for a Verdelho, but there is soooo much to like here that it cannot be denied its stature as GREAT. Mind-blowing intensity. (96)
10/18/2008

[Madeira @ Plumpjack's (San Francisco)]: Much better than the last time I tried this. Another dark, cola-colored wine. Kalediscopic and intense, almost painful in intensity, which I prize in Madeira. Super long, luscious and extracted, with a fudgy and dried fruit core. Super acids. (96)
4/3/2008

[Madeira @ Triomphe (NYC)]: Darker caramel color. First hint of “browner” flavor: molasses, caramel and brown sugar. A bit of a “sweaty” aroma which eventually blew off. An herbal note was detected on the mid-palate with lovely walnut and nut-skin notes that haunted the finish. VERY GOOD. (92)
1/20/2007

[Eric Ifune]

One of my all time favorite Verdelho's.
Still available at the D'Oliveira shop for 800 euros.

[Marco D.]

One of my all time favorite Verdelho's.
Still available at the D'Oliveira shop for 800 euros.

The prices are creeping up. These older wines are getting tougher to buy!