Blandys 1870 Verdelho Solera Madeira

Wine information: This is a special order item and can take 5 days or more for delivery. Please telephone 01329 822733 for availabilty.

For 200 years, Blandy’s Madeira has been synonymous with quality Madeira wine. The Blandys are unique in being the only family of all the original founders of the Madeira wine trade to still own and manage their own original wine company. The family has played a leading role in the development of Madeira wine throughout its long history and members of the family continue to live on Madeira, maintaining a tradition that goes back to 1811. Vintage (or Frasquiera) Madeira must be aged in cask for a minimum of 20 years, in practise they are aged for much longer, before being bottled under Madeira Wine Institute supervision. The wine must then be aged in bottle for a further two years before being released for sale. This has been aged for 74 years in American oak casks on "The Old Blandy's Wine Lodges" canteiros. Madeira is a complex, interesting wine and is made in virtually every vintage. Due to the unique estufagem aging process Madeira is one of the longest-lived wines and also improves for days after opening, but will keep, once opened, for a month and more in a decanter. It makes an ideal wedding or anniversary present. More information to follow.

Tasting Notes: For more information on Solera Madeira please read my blog post - What Is Solera Madeira Wine?

Reviews: "The 1870 vintage was just pre-Phyloxerra, which hit the island in 1872. It was bottled in 1944 after 74 years in cask. This is not made in a solera as the Sherry people would understand it, it seems that a Madeira solera, in the past anyway, was a vintage wine  - in this case 1870 – to which 10% was added ten years later, so it contains some 1880 too. They can then add 10% up to another 9 times. This means that the entire original quantity has been replaced, but that all the different years have mingled together over the decades and that there is some 1870 in there together with all the other vintages too. Quite a pale colour like a very dark khaki. The nose was smoky and fragrant with dried citrus and raisins and some smoky savoury notes. The palate was fresh and dry, but with a touch of caramel-like sweetness, spice, dried fruit, tobacco and umami nuances. This was the only wine where I was aware of the fortifying spirit on the palate. The final stretch of the finish mingled coffee and maple syrup rather wonderfully." 94/100 points, Quentin Sadler, Quentin Sadler's Wine Pages

from www.farehamwinedirect.co.uk

 
     

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