Hi.
Last saturday, during a big wine event here in Lisbon (Encontro com os Vinhos e Sabores, details here - in portuguese http://revistadevinhos.iol.pt/eventos/e ... 2011__8346), we had the rare and unusual chance to taste a series of Madeiras from Blandy's in a special tasting driven by Chris Blandy.
Wines tasted were:
Blandy's Bual 1993
Blandy's Malmsey 1994
Blandy's Verdelho 1984
Blandy's Bual 1980
Blandy's Terrantez 1976
Blandy's Verdelho 1968
Blandy's Sercial 1966
Blandy's Bual 1920
Blandy's Sercial 1910
Blandy's Verdelho Solera 1870
Definite standouts for me were the Bual 1920 (absolutely marvelous) and the Terrantez 1976. The Sercial 1910 was also a treat, still full of life after a hundred years.
Will try to post tasting notes for most (if not all) the wines.
Cheers,
Pedro V.
Madeira Taste in Lisbon
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Re: Madeira Taste in Lisbon
Looks like a great time. Please do post your tasting notes, however long or brief they may be.
Andy Velebil Good wine is a good familiar creature if it be well used. William Shakespeare http://www.fortheloveofport.com
Re: Madeira Taste in Lisbon
Hi Pedro,
Really looking forward to read your impressions of the wines!
Best
Niklas Jorgensen
Really looking forward to read your impressions of the wines!
Best
Niklas Jorgensen
Niklas Jorgensen
Remember this in 25 years or so; 2012 is a great year for Madeira wine!
Remember this in 25 years or so; 2012 is a great year for Madeira wine!
Re: Madeira Taste in Lisbon
Finally got around to writing this...
So, here go the mini taste notes for the Blandy's tasting. Would love to hear your opinions on these wines, if you already had the chance to taste them.
Boal 1993: Caramel, dried orange skin, crystallized fruits, some exotic woods. High acidity but a definite sweeter approach, it felt quite delicate, very smooth with notes of caramel and a long finish. I rated this 16.5 / 20.
Malmsey 1994 (Bottled 2010): Dried almonds, iodine, orange skin, english cake and burnt sugars, this is a clearly fuller, richer Madeira. Nice acidity that was very well balanced with the sweeter notes expected from the Malmsey. Very structured with a very marked persistence. 17/20
Verdelho 1984 - Really liked this one. Beautiful amber, dark golden color, the nose is rich, with notes of caramel and burnt sugar, crystalized orange skin, the usual exotic woods. Somehow, the bouquet manages to convey a sense of acidity. And this acidity is present and very much alive in the palate, in a vibrant, fresh body that has a very nice structure. Notes of caramel permeate the taste, along with orange skin and dried figs. Very long finish that brings out the amazing acidity on this again. Has decades ahead of it. 18/20
Boal 1980 - This one was the first one of the tasting that showed its age (in the best way). Dried figs, almonds, caramel and iodine in the nose, the mouth felt fresh and very balanced, without excesses. Very complex and long, it has definitely started to gain some benefits from its age. 17.5/20
Terrantez 1976 (Bottled in 1997 I think) - One of the highlights, for me. Toffee, dried figs, spices. As it opens up, something a bit more acid comes to the front, like sweet oranges or crystallized lemon skin. Great structure, full and complex, with a mineral touch in the palate, along with the usual toffee and some citrus impressions. Remarkable acidity and a long finish. Really, really good. 18.5/20.
Verdelho 1968 (Bottled in 1994) - Walnuts, almonds, dried figs and exotic woods. The nose felt a little less complex than the previous wine but was nevertheless really nice. Felt very fresh in the mouth, with a vibrant acidity. Notes of oranges, dried fruits and wood. Good wine, refined by age and still able to grow further. 18/20
Sercial 1966 (Bottled in 2004) - Intense bouquet, showing toffee and exotic woods. This was really dry in the mouth, with a high acidity and did not leave a lasting impression on me. It felt very light with some notes of dried fruits but it did not seem to go anywhere... Maybe it needs food to shine? 17/20
Boal 1920 (Botled in 1985) - This is an absolutely amazing wine! Really complex nose, with dried orange skins, wood, citrus, raisins, english cake, toffee. Remarkable concentrated body, with a refreshing acidity that blends really well with the toffee and citrus that permeate the taste. Extremely long finish, the dried fruits notes seem to last forever after the last drop. One of the best wines I've tasted. 19.5/20
Sercial 1910 - Toast/coffee and prunes in the nose, it has a remarkably less sweet bouquet. Unbelievable acidity for a 100 year old wine, it's dry with toast, cocoa and dried fruits notes. Extremely long finish, still managing to clear the palate with its acidity and dryness. This will probably last forever. 19/20.
Verdelho Solera 1870 - Smoky and earthy at first, it opens up to some toffee and toast/coffee. The oak shows itself on the palate, along with some dried almonds. Still with a good deal of acidity and a good structure. Huge finish. Although very good in its own right, I think it was obfuscated by the previous two wines. 18.5/20
Cheers,
Pedro V.
So, here go the mini taste notes for the Blandy's tasting. Would love to hear your opinions on these wines, if you already had the chance to taste them.
Boal 1993: Caramel, dried orange skin, crystallized fruits, some exotic woods. High acidity but a definite sweeter approach, it felt quite delicate, very smooth with notes of caramel and a long finish. I rated this 16.5 / 20.
Malmsey 1994 (Bottled 2010): Dried almonds, iodine, orange skin, english cake and burnt sugars, this is a clearly fuller, richer Madeira. Nice acidity that was very well balanced with the sweeter notes expected from the Malmsey. Very structured with a very marked persistence. 17/20
Verdelho 1984 - Really liked this one. Beautiful amber, dark golden color, the nose is rich, with notes of caramel and burnt sugar, crystalized orange skin, the usual exotic woods. Somehow, the bouquet manages to convey a sense of acidity. And this acidity is present and very much alive in the palate, in a vibrant, fresh body that has a very nice structure. Notes of caramel permeate the taste, along with orange skin and dried figs. Very long finish that brings out the amazing acidity on this again. Has decades ahead of it. 18/20
Boal 1980 - This one was the first one of the tasting that showed its age (in the best way). Dried figs, almonds, caramel and iodine in the nose, the mouth felt fresh and very balanced, without excesses. Very complex and long, it has definitely started to gain some benefits from its age. 17.5/20
Terrantez 1976 (Bottled in 1997 I think) - One of the highlights, for me. Toffee, dried figs, spices. As it opens up, something a bit more acid comes to the front, like sweet oranges or crystallized lemon skin. Great structure, full and complex, with a mineral touch in the palate, along with the usual toffee and some citrus impressions. Remarkable acidity and a long finish. Really, really good. 18.5/20.
Verdelho 1968 (Bottled in 1994) - Walnuts, almonds, dried figs and exotic woods. The nose felt a little less complex than the previous wine but was nevertheless really nice. Felt very fresh in the mouth, with a vibrant acidity. Notes of oranges, dried fruits and wood. Good wine, refined by age and still able to grow further. 18/20
Sercial 1966 (Bottled in 2004) - Intense bouquet, showing toffee and exotic woods. This was really dry in the mouth, with a high acidity and did not leave a lasting impression on me. It felt very light with some notes of dried fruits but it did not seem to go anywhere... Maybe it needs food to shine? 17/20
Boal 1920 (Botled in 1985) - This is an absolutely amazing wine! Really complex nose, with dried orange skins, wood, citrus, raisins, english cake, toffee. Remarkable concentrated body, with a refreshing acidity that blends really well with the toffee and citrus that permeate the taste. Extremely long finish, the dried fruits notes seem to last forever after the last drop. One of the best wines I've tasted. 19.5/20
Sercial 1910 - Toast/coffee and prunes in the nose, it has a remarkably less sweet bouquet. Unbelievable acidity for a 100 year old wine, it's dry with toast, cocoa and dried fruits notes. Extremely long finish, still managing to clear the palate with its acidity and dryness. This will probably last forever. 19/20.
Verdelho Solera 1870 - Smoky and earthy at first, it opens up to some toffee and toast/coffee. The oak shows itself on the palate, along with some dried almonds. Still with a good deal of acidity and a good structure. Huge finish. Although very good in its own right, I think it was obfuscated by the previous two wines. 18.5/20
Cheers,
Pedro V.