744 bottles of Boal on the Wall; Barbeito Single Cask Boal 1996 Cask 307 a+e

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There’s so much prejudice out there when it comes to Madeira, well actually with most fortified wines. ‘They’re sweet and only old people drink it.’ As one of my readers I know you’re not one of them; you’re like me and have seen the Matrix. But besides being a breathtaking wine, Madeira is also one of the most changeable wines. Dynamic if you may wish. So, what am I trying to tell you?

I love the wines of Ricardo Diogo at Vinhos Barbeito. The master of colheitas. There’s such a precision and presence in his single cask wines. But if you fall in love with one of them, well, don’t count on being able to pick up a few more. Why? Many of these wines are made in less than 1,000 half liter bottles each! Ok, you think; I’m just picking up that other Single Cask wine from him. Same grape, same vintage but another cask number. You can’t be more wrong! Every cask is unique, every wine is unique and they all react differently when the maturation starts. For those who thought that Madeira wines wouldn’t differ so much in style; taste the Colheita wines of Ricardo! It’s a great experience; constantly changeable wines, breathtaking wines. And oh yes, you need to have a crush for acidity driven stuff as well…

Over the years I’ve tasted several great Colheitas, all produced in hysterically limited amounts. As the Boal 1996 for example. Casco 307 a+e. Ricardo produced 744 half liter bottles of this one and it is one of my absolute favorites of his. The question is though; will I ever taste it again? From a vineyard on the north side of the island, in São Vicente, Ricardo chose to bottle the Cask 307 a+e on its own. Not only because of its quality, but also for the uniqueness of the vineyard. Pergola trained vines extremely close to the ground, meaning the poor people doing the harvest, basically are crawling to be able to harvest the grapes! Would I like to see that vineyard or not! Yes! Help out with the harvest? Hmmm…

Transparent light amber color with a green hue. Simply gorgeous bouquet; elegant and concentrated at the same time. A touch of smoke, hazelnuts, lime peel, vanilla fudge and gentle spice shop. Very refreshing, yet vintage like. Impressive concentration with that razor sharp acidity of Ricardo’s. A trademark and mastered beautifully. Nutmeg, oriental spices, matchsticks and vanilla. A slight coffee hint. Impeccably balanced sweetness (85 g/l). Long, vintage long, finish with refreshing lime like acidity. Just a beauty.

Want to taste it? As always you will find the rare gems at Mannie Berk. USD 40 is a steal! For other retailers, check the list at Vinhos Barbeito. Don’t despair if you can’t find it. Ricardo has several other great colheitas…

744 bottles of Boal on the Wall, 744 bottles of Boal! Ye take one down, pass it around, 743 bottles of Boal on the wall. 743 bottles of Boal on the Wall, 743 bottles of Boal! Ye take one down, pass it around, 742 bottles of Boal on the wall. 742 bottles of Boal on the Wall, 742 bottles of Boal! Ye take one down, pass it around, 741 bottles of Boal on the wall….