InfoReq: H&H 'Special Grand Old Reserve Vintage 1860 Boa

[*sweetstuff]

I came across at a local store what seems like an excellent buy on an Henriques and Henriques 'Special Grand Old Reserve Vintage 1860 Boal' bottled 1927, rebottled 1955. What is known about this bottling? Seems like Henriques et Henriques released several old madeiras around that time, as I have seen other bottlings with these same dates for important manipulations.

Thanks in advance.

[Roy Hersh]

I have never had that particular bottle that I can remember at least. But given the H&H producer and the age, it seems that anything shy of $400 is a great buy. What is your take on it? OF course you should grab the bottle first and then let us know more about its condition and even if by email, I'd be curious as to the pricing (so when people ask about their old bottles, I am better equipped to respond).

Thanks John. I hope that one of the members here comes forth with interesting information on this wine.


Roy

[*sweetstuff]

I hate to mention a price, Roy, but I've paid almost as much for certain bottles of 1990's ports. Therefore, genuineness and condition are concerns...

That's why I'm grateful to Madeira Wine Guide, which I had actually come across on my own--extremely impressive. And to you, of course. Thank you.

[*sweetstuff]

Don't think that I should make everyone who wants to view these pictures of this new purchase open up all these pics, so I've listed the URLs so you can click on them at the bottom of this post, since it's important to see that this is an old machine-made bottle, an H and H specially made one with the marks in the glass, probably of the bottling era if I'm allowed a guess from what I've seen in the Madeira Wine Guide. Level is bottom neck and liquid seems clear to transillumination, such as I can achieve.

By the way, here is what is on the labels:

Front: Special Reserve Madeira
Grand Old Vintage 1860
(medium-dry)
Bottled 1927--Rebottled 1955
Shipped by
Henriques & Henriques
Est. 1850--Funchal-Madiera
Product of Madeira (Portugal)
Alcohol 20 percent by volume
Imported by The Hammer Company
Established 1914
Cleveland, Ohio

Back label: Grand Old Boal, Vintage 1860

This will serve to Certify that this bottle contains a genuine old Boal Madeira, which when inherited by Mr. João Joaquim Henriques, Managing-Director of this firm, from his father who died in 1895, was known to be a wine of the 1860 vintage.

This wine was kept and aged in oak casks until bottled in 1927 and was rebottled in 1955.

Only 340 bottles remain in existence. This is bottle no 353.

(signature)

Director
Henriques et Henriques
Madiera

Paste on white label:
"Madeira wines, like other wines of this type, are liable to throw a deposit especially when submitted to low temperature. The quality of the wine is in no way affected; but it is advisable to allow a bottle to stand 24 hours before being decanted."

Interesting that the number stamps on the label seem to have gotten reversed, as I'd think it should be that this is bottle #340 out of 353.


I wonder who I can get to x-ray this cork like they do on MWG? Any radiologists in our following?

Oh, and the price? I can say now: $179.99. When I went back to get the bottle, the manager (not the one I talked to on Wednesday) informed me coldly that the bottle had a replacement value in excess of $400. I said I knew that, that's why I'm going to buy it from you for $180. He sighed and walked away, telling the cashier to ring it up at the agreed price.

I feel a bit larcenous about this, but happy. When I first got interested in Madeira, this is what these old bottles cost, or even less, and that was only about 10 years ago. But Manny, and others, 'discovered' the stuff right thereafter, and I had purchased very few bottles at that point.

Last but not least, thank you to my very patient and understanding wife Barbara who participated in this purchase decision much more calmly than you could have believed.

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[Todd Pettinger]

Only 340 bottles remain in existence. This is bottle no 353.

…

Interesting that the number stamps on the label seem to have gotten reversed, as I'd think it should be that this is bottl #340 out of 353.

Unless we consider that there was possibly around 700 bottles available from the cask… This bottle could be #353, with 340 remaining. (Total of 693-ish bottles)

Just thinking out loud. (The logic makes sense in my brain likely because I've managed to drain a half bottle of port whilest watching the extended coverage of the Tour de France this evening.)

Todd

[*sweetstuff]

Thanks, Todd. Hope the cyclist you're for did well.

Did some further investigation on the web. There was an interesting offering in an Australian auction, Langton's, in June 2006 in Sydney, at

admin.langtons.com.au/uploads/catalogue/S251.rtf

HENRIQUES & HENRIQUES, Vintage 1860
Grand Old Boal Madeira
3311 1 Bottle - Bottled 1927Re-Bottled 1955Torn LabelBottle # 1209 of 1230, Damaged Capsule, Slightly Damaged Label per bottle $600-800

Of course this is in Australian dollars.

But the interesting thing is that this bottling is #1209 of 1230. This leads me, along with the notation that the wine was held in 'casks' (note plural) that there were multiple bottlings for different shippers.

Also of interest is a Cellar Exchange listing from 1998 that reads:

$160 - 1860 GRAND OLD BOAL VINTAGE MADEIRA, SPECIAL RESERVE (Henriques & Henriques *** W 1 BT 12/98

at

http://216.239.51.104/search?q=cache:ZC ... s&ie=UTF-8

That makes this bottle the third example that I've seen in person or on the net.

[Roy Hersh]

Just as an FYI, Mannie has been retailing Madeira for between 15-20 years.

[*sweetstuff]

Roy wrote: Just as an FYI, Mannie has been retailing Madeira for between 15-20 years.
_________________
Ambition driven by passion, rather than money, is as strong an elixir as is Port.

http://www.fortheloveofport.com

Yes, Roy, but the rest of us weren't really paying attention (smile). What I refer to is that incredible road show of Madeira wines that Manny put on, starting back perhaps 8 years ago, which, nearly singlehandedly, put them back on the map. Actually, I'm not griping, because these wines truly deserve whatever reputation they have regained, especially at this level. However, most vintage Madiera is effectively out of my price range at present. I know that I need to investigate Colhietas and the age-dated stuff.

I've been doing business with him for perhaps fifteen years, and some of my early Madeiras were bought from his circular. And, it takes very little shopping to see that he is very conservative with his pricing.

By the way, what's your impression of this bottle so far, after having seen the pics and other information?

Having access to this bottle, the oldest Madeira I've ever owned and perhaps the one with the greatest breed, makes me start thinking of when you and I and some of the others might get together for one of your monster tastings. I'd have something to contribute!

[Eric Ifune]

Hi John!
Looks like you got a great price, at least these days.

[*sweetstuff]

Hi John!
Looks like you got a great price, at least these days.

Perhaps you, and Roy, would be interested to know that Barbara and I are going to be spending 17 days in the German winelands in September. I remember meeting with you and many others in the Johannishof along the Moselufer outside Bernkastel (the Loosen family home), and at the Moselschild restaurant.