Great Madeira Vintages

[Alex Messina]

Hello all. I have had limited experience drinking Madeira, but enough to know that I enjoy them immensely. I am currently drinking my father's birthday wine, a d'Oliveiras Reserva Bastardo 1927.
My query is this: would anybody be able to advise me as to which are the truly great vintages in Madeira since, say, 1900?
I can't find this information online anywhere, and such advice would give me assistance in seeking out the wines (and varieties) that might interest me.
A brief synopsis of the classic, outstanding, excellent, very good and good vntages would be invaluable.
I hope that I am not asking too much.
Thank you in advance for any assistance that may be forthcoming.
Best wishes,
Alex Messina.
Enthusiastic amateur.
Sunny Brisbane.

[Andreas Platt]

1920 I'd say.

[Philippe Borel]

Suggest that you take a look at Michael Broadbent 'Vintage wine'. The section on 20th century Madeira is not the deepest, six pages, but this is the voice of 'The Master'. I would never accuse him of being 'soooo amazingly boring..... He knows more than any of us, and has an extraordinary insight and reverence for Madeira. He also know how to write, which is always helpful.
He rates the 1910 vintage very highly. I, respectfully concur. A particularly splendid vintage, and, relatively, quite affordable and available as we speak.
Enjoy!

[Marco D.]

I would think it might be tough to generalize on vintages, as different grape varieties did better in different vintages. Boal, for example, excelled in 1920. If I remember correctly, Noel Cossart's "The Island Vineyard" has a section on vintages and occasionally mentions the grapes that excelled. As Philippe mentioned, Broadbent's book is also very good.

[Eric Ifune]

I'd agree on 1920. Have had terrific Malmsey and Boal.
1900 is another good one. I'd also say 1968 just based on the quality of the D'Oliverias Boal.

[Gary Banker]

1920: I agree with the others. Bual and malvasia are great and the 1920 Barbeito Favilla Vieira malvasia is a bargain.

1954: Noel Cossart recommended it. There are a lot of different wines from several shippers and they are mostly available. I have had boal, malvasia, verdelho, and terrantez from Barbeito, Justino, Leacock, and Blandy's, and I have H&H. Surprisingly, I have never heard of any 1954 wine from D'Oliveira's. They probably have some barrels squirreled away that they will bottle right after H&H releases their 1927 bastardo (after I'm dead).

1978: These are too young for some on this board, but there are many fine wines, especially from Barbeito (sercial, boal, and verdelho). There are several terrantez bottlings including H&H, Broadbent, and Justino.

[Alex Messina]

Thanks everyone.
I first bought Michael Broadbent's book 20-odd years ago, and concur - he certainly is one of the "wise old men" of wine, whom I respect greatly. I particularly love his "Britishness", a feature I have also admired in wine writers Hugh Johnson, Clive Coates and my favourite, Jancis Robinson. They share a certain ability to get down to the heart and soul of a wine, without being overly analytical, but with flair and passion, which speaks to me.
I'm not sure where or when I lost (or lent) Broadbent's tome, so I shall have to re-purchase! I shall also seek out Noel Cossart's book.
Thank you for your personal recommendations also, which I have duly noted.
Good health and happy sipping to all.
Best wishes,
Alex Messina.

[Ray Barnes]

As far as I am concerned, the tasting notes available by subscription to the FTLOP website are an excellent reference and absolutely worth every cent and more of the cost. I have relied on them in making purchasing decisions of vintage port and madeira. One can being to assemble a clearer picture of which vintages are standouts just on the notes alone. These observations can be corroborated elsewhere, if one absolutely feels the need to do so.

[Moses Botbol]

I'd agree on 1920. Have had terrific Malmsey and Boal.
1900 is another good one. I'd also say 1968 just based on the quality of the D'Oliverias Boal.

All good ones here.