After this tasting, I began a search looking for all the old Madeira I could find, and Wine Watch now has one of the largest collections of Madeira you can find in South Florida.
A little background: Madeira is an island off the coast of Morocco that belongs to Portugal. Historically, it was a popular port of call for ships on the trade routes between Africa, Asia and the Americas. The original Madeiras were made as powerful white wines. However, to protect them during transport they were fortified, with alcohol added before fermentation is complete, which stops the process and leaves residual sugar in the wine. Sea Captains discovered that long ocean voyages actually improved casks of Madeira. Unlike with other wines, heat and oxidation are essential to Madeira and so the wine is virtually indestructible.
During the 18th and 19th century, Madeira was America's wine of choice and most fashionable drink amongst high-society. When the Declaration of Independence was signed they toasted with Madiera. When Betsy Ross knitted the first flag she was sipping a glass of Madiera, and when Ben Franklin was tinkering with his many inventions he indulged in a cup of this wonderful elixir.
Unfortunately over the past 150 years, Madeira sank from its preeminence as America's favorite wine, for several reasons. In the 1850s, powdery mildew, a fungal disease destroyed most of Madeira's vineyards. It was not long after a treatment was discovered for powdery mildew when phylloxera struck, devastating the remaining vineyards. By the 20th century, Madeira had recovered but its American market had disappeared due to Prohibition. And last, Portugal's 1974 popular revolution dealt yet another blow by dismantling the remaining large estates.
There are four major types of Madeira -- Sercial, Verdelho, Bual, and Malmsey (Malvasia).
The difference lies in the grape varieties from which each was originally made, and the respective sweetness levels of the finished wines.
Sercial is the driest style, containing up to 1.5 percent residual sugar and known for its high acidity. Similar to fino and manzanilla Sherries, Sercial is great served as an aperitif.
Verdelho is semi-dry with up to 2.5 percent residual sugar, lending the wine greater richness.
Bual is sweeter still at 3.5 percent residual sugar, however it is balanced by sharp, tangy acidity.
Malmsey, made from Malvasia grapes, is the richest and darkest-colored style with up to 4 percent residual sweetness.
Buals and Malmseys are often compared to tawny Ports; they typically show even more richness and concentration, depending on cask aging.
These Madeiras are from the house of Blandy's and we will be experiencing the entire range of wines produced in Madeira including some very rare Vintages.
Madeira - A Taste of Immortality
Blandy's Madeira Tasting at Wine Watch Tuesday, October 18th 7pm
Tasting Line-up:
Blandy's Madeira Alvada 5 Year Price: $19.50 Sale $17.16 Case $199
"Lovely dark brown colour. Christmas spice and lime character on nose. Good weight. Lime marmalade on palate. Strong alcohol. Good balance and good length." Wine International, September 2006
Blandy's 5 Yr Malmsey Price: $28.25 Sale $24.86 Case $288
"The nose is redolent of freshly baked, warm, spicy fruit dripping in golden syrup. The palate is lush, with a rich, fragrant, soft texture - impeccably balanced." International Wine Challenge. October 1999.
Blandy's 10 Yr Malmsey Price: $42.75 Sale $37.62 Case $436
"Quite dark... Tangy acidity and quite sweet, with chocolate and raisin notes. Very long finish and lots of grip. Stands on its own after dinner". Lyn Farmer - The Wine News, March 2001
1994 Blandy's Colheita 500ml Price: $26 Sale $22.88 Case $265
Amber colour with golden reflections. Characteristic bouquet of Madeira with dried fruits, toffee and dark chocolate. Sweet and full bodied. Long aftertaste with notes of honey.
Blandy's Bual 5yr Price: $27 Sale $23.76 Case $275
"The Madeira Wine Company's bid for post- modern Madeira works surprisingly well in its flashy shocking pink-labeled 50cl bottle. They deliberately use shaved oak casks to increase the oaky component. Quite light but very vibrant and edgy and very, very definitely Madeira. Sappy, bright, you could drink this with some foods too". Jancis Robinson
Blandy's Sercial 5YR Price: $27 Sale $23.76 Case $275
"Served slightly chilled, this is the perfect example of how this style of Madeira fits into place at even the most modern of dinner parties. Its innate nuttiness, combined with a lovely dried citrus fruit edge, makes it the perfect foil to a plate of salted almonds, freshly cut spicy chorizo or picquillo peppers. It leaves the palate feeling crisp, clean and very refreshed". S Jones - Wine Magazine, January 2003.
Blandy's Verdelho 5 YR Price: $27 Sale $23.76 Case $275
"Gorgeous full-bodied mouth feel on the palate with slightly smoked rich creamy flavours and tones of honey, introduced by luxurious warm full orangey aromas. Simply delightful." International Wine Challenge
Blandy's Vintage Special 1968 Malmsey Price: $204 Sale $179.52 Case $2080
Blandy's Vintage Special 1968 Verdello Price: $247.50 Sale $217.80 Case $2524
Blandy's Vintage Special 1985 Malmsey Price: $225 Sale $198 Case $2295
Clear, amber colour with golden highlights. Characteristic Madeira bouquet with notes of wood, dried fruits and toffee. Smooth, full-bodied and sweet, with a long warm aftertaste with notes of oak.
1977 Blandy's Terrantez
We will be serving a selection of cheese to accompany the tasting wines but no other food will be served at this event.
This tasting is FREE for the first 15 people who make reservations, call 954-523-9463 for more info.
Other Madeira available in the store:
NV Blandys Madeira Rainwater Price: $17.00 Sale $14.96 Quantity in Stock: 11
A light aroma nuts hazelnut walnuts and dried dates and figs with a touch of fudge. A nice amount of fig and date fruit on the tongue again very light and pleasant with a short but pleasant finish. Finish 30+ Good
NV Charleston Sercial (20-year blend) List $54.00 Sale $47.52 Quantity in Stock: 12
This is a wine that was blended by the Rare Wine Company (the importer) and they are great examples of entry level Madieras the Sercial is dryer than the Malmsey.
The Rare Wine Company Savannah Verdelho Price: $50.75 Sale $44.66 Quantity in Stock: 12
The RWC historic Series Madeiras are a collaboration between The Rare Wine Company and Vinhos Barbeito. The goal here is to produce wines that evoke the mature vintage Madeiras of days long past. The various wines in the series are made up of a blend of younger varietal wines and older stocks. The Savannah Verdelho is the newest wine in the series. Produced from a blend of 10 year old Verdelho mixed with small quantities of 40-60 year old Tinta Negra Mole by Ricardo Freitas, grandson of the founder Mario Barbeito, this amber gold colored wine is barely sweet with rich walnut/almond aroma and flavor. Toasted barrel character on the finish adds to the complexity of this Madeira.
NV New York Malmsey (20-year blend) List $54.00 Sale $47.52 Quantity in Stock: 10
This is a wine that was blended by the Rare Wine Company (the importer) and they are great examples of entry level Madieras the Malmsey is sweeter than the Sercial.
NV Boston Bual (20-year blend) List $50.75 Sale $44.66 Quantity in Stock: 14
This is a wine that was blended by the Rare Wine Company (the importer) and they are great examples of entry level Madieras the Malmsey is sweeter than the Sercial.
1795 Barbeito Terrantez Madeira Price: $4500.00 Sale $3960 Quantity in Stock: 1
1875 Barbeito Malvasia List $950 Sale $836 Quantity in Stock: 1
Malmsey, made from Malvasia grapes, is the richest and darkest-colored style with up to 4 percent residual sweetness.
1880 D'Oliveira Terrantez List $1500 Sale $1320 Quantity in Stock: 1
Terrantez is considered to be the rarest of all the Madera. This grape had been thought to be extinct for many years and is only now beginning to make a comeback. Serious Madiera collectors consider old Tarrantez to be the ultimate prize in collecting and drinking Madiera.
1914 Barbeito Bual List $350 Sale $308 Quantity in Stock: 1 Bual is sweeter still at 3.5 percent residual sugar, however it is balanced by sharp, tangy acidity.
1922 D'Olivera, Bual List $531 Sale $467 Quantity in Stock: 1
Bual is sweeter still at 3.5 percent residual sugar, however it is balanced by sharp, tangy acidity.
1929 Barbeito, Verdelho List $ 327 Sale $287 (1 bottle available)
Verdelho is semi-dry with up to 2.5 percent residual sugar, lending the wine greater richness.
1937 D'Oliveira Sercial Madeira Price: $322.50 Sale $283.80 Quantity in Stock: 1
(93 Points) Full of verve, this Madeira is deep amber in color, with a fresh, complex bouquet evoking cocoa, caramel and a hint of iodine. The lovely butterscotch flavor marries well with the lively structure and is followed by a dry, nutty finish. Drink now. –BS Wine Spectator Issue: Jan 31, 2000
1954 Barbeito, Malvasia List $ 292.75 Sale $257.62 Quantity in Stock: 6
Malmsey, made from Malvasia grapes, is the richest and darkest-colored style with up to 4 percent residual sweetness.
1968 D'Olivera, Bual List $192 Sale $168.98 Quantity in Stock: 2
Bual is sweeter still at 3.5 percent residual sugar, however it is balanced by sharp, tangy acidity.
1969 D'Oliveira Sercial Madeira Price: $164.25 Sale $144.54 Quantity in Stock: 5
The high level of acidity makes Sercial almost undrinkable in its youth. In the 16th century, this wine was called "Esgana Cão" - dog-strangler. To obtain a maximum aroma as a counterpart, Sercial is harvested as the last of the grapes, often as late as the beginning of October. Sercial has to mature for a long time, before it is drinkable. The minimum of twenty years in cask for vintages will just be enough to soften the piercing acidity. Once this wine has found its balance, it makes a perfect aperitif but it can also hold its own very well. On the island, Sercial is often served with soup, nuts, crackers or other snacks. The cocktail "Madeira on the Rocks" is made of 2/3 dry Madeira of a lesser quality and 1/3 Campari. Sercial also goes well after Champagne.
1950 Barbeito Malvasia Reserva Velha Madeira Price: $320.00 Sale $282 Quantity in Stock: 1
1950 Barbeito Bual Price: $345 Sale $303.60 5 bottles
1982 Barbeito Bual Price: $159 Sale $139.92 2 bottles
1920 Barbeito Malvasia Price: $412.50 Sale $363 3 bottles
1950 Barbeito Malvasia Price: $345 Sale $303.60 1 bottle
1997 Barbeito Single Harvest 500ml Price: $75 Sale $66 1 bottle
1922 D'Oliveira Bual Price: $532.50 Sale $468 2 bottles
1912 Verdelho Price: $525 Sale $462 1 bottle
