Tag Archive | "Madeira"
Blandy’s Bicentennial Madeira Tasting – the most comprehensive range of old and rare vintages ever assembled by the family
No wine seduces like Madeira, whose sweet, heady and entrancing aroma led us by the nose, Bisto Kid-style, from the entrance upstairs to this magnificent and magnaminous tasting presented by Michael Blandy (Chair), Chris Blandy (Director), Francisco Albuquerque (winemaker), Richard Mayson (Port & Madeira specialist) and Paul Symington. Spanning 183 years and seven generations of [...]
Continue reading...Pictures of the stairway to heaven a.k.a. Sadie Family Columella & Blandy’s Vintage Madeira verticals
Posted Saturday 11th June 2011
A memorable week just gone by with Tom Cannavan’s 50 Great Portuguese Wines (reported here) and two top flight verticals – Sadie Family Columella 2000-2009 and a vertical tasting of vintage Madeira in celebration of Blandy’s bicentennial year. I’ll be writing up both verticals soon as. Meantime, a few pictures to whet your appetite! 10 green [...]
Continue reading...1.º Encontro e Prova Internacional de Vinho: 40 old & rare fortified wines, a unique tasting
Posted Wednesday 23rd March 2011
At the weekend, I was taken back to the final session of Australia’s Landmark Tutorial (see here) which focused on fortified wines, including a couple of rare old birds. Why? Because I had the immense good fortune to taste 40 rare and aged Portuguese fortified wines, three of which dated back to the 18th [...]
Continue reading...Henriques & Henriques 20 Years Old Terrantez & Malvasia Madeira: seasonal wines of the day
Posted Friday 24th December 2010
These two new releases from Henriques & Henriques plough a relatively new furrow, more aged age dated Madeiras, in this case, a 20 Year Old Malvasia and Terrantez (pictured). The Terrantez is particularly exciting! Spending longer time in cask than the more traditional 5, 10 and 15 Year Old Madeiras, these 20 Year Old wines are that bit [...]
Continue reading...Blandy’s 1968 Bual Madeira: seasonal wine of the day
Posted Monday 20th December 2010
Renowned for its indestructible qualities, it might comfort some that Vintage Madeira will last to infinity and beyond but then why wait? Take Blandy’s 1968 Bual, which came my way during this year’s trophy judging at Decanter World Wine Awards. Utterly delicious, I could have quite happily supped it all afternoon given half the chance, but so patently did [...]
Continue reading...The Big Fortified Tasting – a big thumbs up
Posted Monday 19th April 2010
Nine out of 10 vegetarians miss bacon and I still hanker after BLT sandwiches. Happily a similar new acronym, BFT – short for Big Fortified Tasting – has entered my vocabulary and I feel well compensated! The name pulls no punches. With over 300 wines at today’s inaugural tasting, it provided a unique opportunity to [...]
Continue reading...Madeira relief fund
Posted Thursday 25th February 2010
The Specialist Importers Trade Tasting usually provides me with a chance to catch up with Ricardo Diogo V. Freitas, third generation winemaker at Barbeito. He’s a human dynamo and my visit in 2007 (reported here) swiftly dispelled any the notion that Madeira is all pipe and slippers. Well, you may have guessed that Ricardo didn’t [...]
Continue reading...Portugal or is that Portu-full? Some terrific food and wine matches
Posted Thursday 28th January 2010
Just back from three days presenting Portuguese wines, followed by lunch at our rather tasty venues: Winchester (Hotel du Vin), Bath (The Bath Priory Hotel) and Ludlow (Fishmore Hall). I’m bursting at the seams! But also bursting to share with you some terrific food and wine matches, including classic puds to enjoy with Madeira – [...]
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Posted Wednesday 22nd June 2011
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