Eastwell Madeira
In the 19th century it was, especially in the United States, common to see Madeira wine named after the ship that transported the wine to America. Back then, Madeira wines traded in casks and hence were stenciled after ship…
Category: Blends
Gone Fishin’ – Veramar Reserva
‘I often mix among ordinary people. I have taken the tube and I love to meet poor people. And I talk to them occasionally too, and sometimes give my autograph for free.’ No. It’s not me. The quote belongs…
Matching Madeira Wine & Food – HM Borges 5 Years Old Reserva Seco
In the glass, H M Borges 5 Years Old Reserva Seco. A Tinta Negra where half of it aged in canteiro. It’s a great partner in the kitchen; something for the chef while preparing dinner, and occasionally, when the…
Blandy’s 30 Years Old Bual – A Great Debut
There’s a first time for everything. Like producing a 30 Years Old Bual. But hopefully not a last time because Blandy’s initial attempt at the mentioned age level is nothing but brilliant. Many sequels please. No, it’s actually not…
Henriques & Henriques – 50 Years Old Tinta Negra
Madeira wine is on the move! 2015 saw Tinta Negra being promoted to a recommended grape and among other news, there was this new age category added to the blends – the 50 Years Old. A most welcome one as…
Vó Vera – A Tribute to Granny
During easter, at my most recent visit to Vinhos Barbeito, Ricardo Diogo presented a wine to me with the words; you can’t write about this. Not yet. Fine, easy to respect that, I thought. Then he poured the wine….
A Wine To Improve Conversation
One of my all time favorite books on Madeira was released 54 years ago; Rupert Croft-Cooke’s Madeira. The English author, sadly little known to many, had a most productive writing career. He basically did it all; fiction, non-fiction, poetry,…
Beautiful Blends – H.M. Borges 15 Years Old Verdelho
More blends! This time the 15 Years Old Verdelho from H M Borges. Again, Ivo Couto’s blending skills is demonstrated in the wine. And by the way, this must be one of the driest blended Verdelho’s out there! The…
H M Borges – 10 Years Old Boal
He’s one of those we speak too little about, working more quietly in the background. But the expression in his wines are just classic, often shaped the elegant way, and they’re all about balance. Some might say his experience…
Vinhos Barbeito – The 10 Years Old Verdelho
A new Colheita or Vintage Madeira? Then I’m like a child on Christmas Eve with all the anticipation that follows. It’s a great joy to taste something just released and I know the producers are as excited. After all;…
A Worthy Successor, The 30 Years Old Malvasia
Their 40 Years Old Malvazia was an extra-ordinary wine. But the new release from from H.M. Borges, the 30 Years Old Malvasia, is a worthy successor. If you’re into the sweeter style of Madeira, this is simply put a must…
Vinhos Barbeito: 20 Years Old Verdelho Ribeiro Real Lote 1
The moment is closing in and I don’t like it at all. For two months it has been my companion, this complex and ethereal Verdelho which totally reverses the belief what a Madeira ought to be. Now, when looking…
Ribeiro Real Lote 1 Boal – Blended Perfection
Funny actually; I’m not that much into sweets, chocolate or desserts for that matter. Never really been. Guess it comes with the nut allergy I’ve had since childhood. Although it turned milder with age, it’s still there: the avoiding…
Blandy’s 5 Years Old Verdelho
Young Madeira and a classic grape. In my world there’s no doubt; Verdelho and Malvasia are the ones that offer most of their respective grape typicity. Perhaps because they have a quite clear, defined style from the beginning? The…