First Madeira Visit 2016
It’s always great to be back in Madeira. Or as a friend put it; welcome home Niklas. This year’s first visit to the island included visits to both Blandy’s new top-notch facility in Caniçal and the company’s impressive 4.5…
Blandy’s – 1968 Verdelho Vintage
Nervous and at the same time longing. Last Friday I had my copy in front of me, the hundredth issue of the wine magazine I write for, Scandinavian Livets Goda. My piece was an extensive one, on Etna, a…
V For Verdelho – Blandy’s 1973
Yes, I am a sucker for Verdelho. Yes, it is my favourite Madeira grape. No, I’m not renaming the site Mad about Verdelho. How we perceive wine will always be of subjective matter. There’s no point in denying…
Mad About Madeira Goes Spotify
Music is a big part of our lives, essential even. Don’t think anyone will question that. However, if music is able to influence how you perceive a wine is another chapter. Guess it all comes down to how much…
1811 Malvasia Candida – Or?
A friend of mine came with this sample, an 1811 Malvasia Candida. Unknown producer though. Bought in Portugal. Yeah, I know, I have great friends but that is the wine world. So many fantastic people out there, sharing. In…
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,…
New Release: Blandy’s 2008 Harvest Malmsey
Nowadays, when tasting a new Madeira release, I’m almost always impressed. Madeira wine has never been better but what perhaps should be emphasized even more is that this doesn’t seem to be enough for some of the producers. It…
Wine Spectator’s Top 100 – Blandy’s 2002 Bual Ranked No. 24
There’s a few of us, doing our share to raise some awareness when it comes to Madeira. I do it here, on my site, at my Facebook page, On Instagram and Twitter, but also in the printed Scandinavian wine…
1980 Terrantez From The Olím Brothers
Wine is supposed to be consumed, not kept, although some bottles come with a certain psychological barrier. Like the 1980 Terrantez from the Olím brothers Artur and Edmundo, a k a Artur Barros e Sousa Lda. Now history as…
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…
Beautiful Blandy’s
When words are not needed. A tour around the canteiros and premises of Blandy’s, at Avenida Arriaga in the city center of Funchal. Magical… Visit the wine lodge, meet the great people…
D’Oliveiras: 1977 Terrantez
By now, I’ve had the d’Oliveiras 1977 Terrantez on numerous occasions and feel it’s a wine worthy of yet a posting. Why? It’s just getting better and better! There’s something about Terrantez. I know it, you know it, every…
2012 Primeira Paixão Merlot
I’m a supporter of the table wines of Madeira. They’re much needed for the inseperable travel and gastronomy industry and won’t oppose a threat to the island’s fortified wine industry. Sure, they’re both aiming at the desirable Verdelho grape…
Barbeito – VB Reserva Lote 3
The third version of the VB Reserva from Vinhos Barbeito – and also by far my favorite in the trilogy. Blending Verdelho and Bual isn’t something you just do like that; finding the right proportions is essential. That is, if…