Your Greatest Madeira 'Steal'?

[Barry Sunderland]

No, I'm not advocating 'steals' in the sense of felonies. What have you found in the market, though, Madeira-wise, where you received an awesome bargain; yes, a 'steal'?

[Reidar Andersen]

Well, my steal was in 2002 since 1 bottle of 1802 T from Oscar were offered in an auction in Copenhagen.

I did not bid and it was not sold. I contacted the auction house and asked if I could get name etc of the salesperson. I did, called him and for that bottle.

He had 3 !! and offered all 3 for DKK ( Danish Crowns ) 10.000 about USD 1.600 then.

One big problem, no way to ship to Norway. Strict alcohol laws and enourmous red tape to get it here. Even 1802 T is considered as “liquid poison” in this country. 21% alcohol is bad…

I had to pick it up in Copenhagen and bring it here as my taxfree quota. But I was just about to leave on an Asian vacation…

Then it crossed my mind, I will stop in Copenhagen on the way home to Oslo from Singapore… 1 + hour connection. That is more than enough. Already checked in for the connecting flight ..

Yes, I called the guy and asked him to wait outside in Copenhagen with the bottles when I arrive. I bring DKK 10.000 in cash . ( Bought in Norway and brought around in many Asian countries ).

So done . I went through immigration, had contact on cell phone just after landing.

Met him just outside. Gave him 10xDKK 1.000, got the bottles and went in again. Got my connecting SAS flight and went on green door in Oslo ( below my taxfree quota ).

I still have all three. These were the non-Barbeito one with Oscar seals. Two were almost leaking and I recorked them. The third one I will recork later this year.

[Barry Sunderland]

Well, my steal was in 2002 since 1 bottle of 1802 T from Oscar were offered in an auction in Copenhagen.

I did not bid and it was not sold. I contacted the auction house and asked if I could get name etc of the salesperson. I did, called him and for that bottle.

He had 3 !! and offered all 3 for DKK ( Danish Crowns ) 10.000 about USD 1.600 then.

One big problem, no way to ship to Norway. Strict alcohol laws and enourmous red tape to get it here. Even 1802 T is considered as “liquid poison” in this country. 21% alcohol is bad…

I had to pick it up in Copenhagen and bring it here as my taxfree quota. But I was just about to leave on an Asian vacation…

Then it crossed my mind, I will stop in Copenhagen on the way home to Oslo from Singapore… 1 + hour connection. That is more than enough. Already checked in for the connecting flight ..

Yes, I called the guy and asked him to wait outside in Copenhagen with the bottles when I arrive. I bring DKK 10.000 in cash . ( Bought in Norway and brought around in many Asian countries ).

So done . I went through immigration, had contact on cell phone just after landing.

Met him just outside. Gave him 10xDKK 1.000, got the bottles and went in again. Got my connecting SAS flight and went on green door in Oslo ( below my taxfree quota ).

I still have all three. These were the non-Barbeito one with Oscar seals. Two were almost leaking and I recorked them. The third one I will recork later this year.

Reidar,

Thunderous story... Awesome.

[John Vachon]

In early 1980's:

Leacock Sercial Solera 1860-$5.99-but like an idiot I passed on the other 7-8 btl's and

didn't try it for 2-3 years after-one of the biggest mistakes ever.

It was a very great wine.

[Barry Sunderland]

In early 1980's:

Leacock Sercial Solera 1860-$5.99-but like an idiot I passed on the other 7-8 btl's and

didn't try it for 2-3 years after-one of the biggest mistakes ever.

It was a very great wine.

You're killin' me...

[Alan Gardner]

Not sure this was a ‘steal’ as it involved MUCH detective work and organization. However it was the most satisfying:
Here was the auction catalogue listing:
Lot 83 Milk Punch 1750 (est £150-200+)
Hand blown half bottle (u7.5cm)
‘sheer delight with a bouquet and flavour resembling Madeira’ Hopeton House, S Queensferry

The background was that this bottle came from a contents disposition from an old mansion in Somerset, England.
Apart from the appearance (a hand-blown bottle clearly extremely old) the only clue (other than a typed ‘Milk Punch 1750’ label) were tasting notes of other bottles of same wine in the cellar records. My ‘reading’ of these alerted me to the possibility that it was a Madeira – and given the estimate I decided to attend the auction.
The attending expert, from the auction house, was Anthony Barne MW who told me that the bottle (plus a few Ports) had been donated to a local Museum, but the Museum had no facilities to store or display wine, so had asked permission from the donor to sell these at auction, to raise funds to display other (non-wine) donations. All experience suggested that the wines had lain, potentially undisturbed, in the cellar since original purchase. I shared my suspicion with Anthony that this ‘sounded like’ a genuine Madeira – and asked his opinion. He shared the suspicion – but was careful to say that he had no real knowledge of the contents – only the origin. He also admitted a conflict – as he was hoping to bid on the wine himself (he was a member of a Port/Madeira tasting group based in Bath, England) – however, he would only bid if it was uncontested as he didn’t want to be caught in a conflict of interest. In the event I was the only bidder and we opened this wine with a small group of Madeira lovers about a year ago.
EVERYBODY was in agreement – this was undoubtedly a madeira – and one of the finest we have ever had (one participant revealed that his research showed that ‘sweet wines’ were ‘often’ called “Milk Punch” a few hundred years ago – but I haven’t personally confirmed that).
General consensus – probably a Bual with still fierce acidity – and one of the darkest olive rims we’ve ever seen on a Madeira. Bottle probably about 400ml contents originally.

[Mark L]

Reidar and Alan,
Both awesome awesome stories. I hope others have stories even only 1/2 as exciting!

and 5.99 for Leacock Solera 1860 is about as much of a 'steal' as anyone is going to get! (unless someone pays YOU to take the bottle)

Cheers,
Mark

[Philippe Borel]

Let's keep the story short. Some years ago was based in NY working for a US hotel company. Said company purchases a hotel in Toronto. Am send there to manage the property. Once arrived one of my first stop over was to check out the wine cellar which was a particularly large and extensive one.
Spotted a case of Cossart-Gordon 1895 Bual and one case of 1910 Sercial from the same house. What is a Madeira lover to do?
I had to show some restraint and did not have both cases to our appartment, live-in situation, but was content to limit my plundering to six bottles of each, for 'entertainment purposes'. I mostly entertained myself, family and friends but the odd customer was treated to these fine wines.
The Bual was a rather heroic wine, thundering, intense, splendid. The Verdelho more subtle and elegant. I obviously did not have to pay for these bottles; does this fall under the greatest 'Steal' category?

[Ray Barnes]

I've never been so fortunate to acquire a bottle of madeira for below market value, yet, but most madeiras are "steals" by comparison to other wines. At the risk of going off topic, I very fondly recall buying the 1987 Clos du Marquis, the second wine of Chateau Leoville-Las Cases, for about $8, and two bottles of the stunning 1985 Bonneau du Martray Corton-Charlemagne at $50 each.

[Andy Velebil]

I'm not buying much at the moment, but I couldn't say no to this deal....Just picked up a case of Henriques & Henriques 15 year old Verdelho for $15 a bottle
Should I have bought more?

[Ray Barnes]

Andy, that sounds like a smoking deal indeed. As to the last question, if I was in a position to purchase 2 cases of that, I would be very tempted. That's like a case specific question.
Ray

[Gary Banker]

I'm not buying much at the moment, but I couldn't say no to this deal....Just picked up a case of Henriques & Henriques 15 year old Verdelho for $15 a bottle
Should I have bought more?

Yes

Do they ship?

[Andy Velebil]

I'm not buying much at the moment, but I couldn't say no to this deal....Just picked up a case of Henriques & Henriques 15 year old Verdelho for $15 a bottle
Should I have bought more?

Yes

Do they ship?

No they don't as far as I know. The store doesn't even have a website.