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Friday, February 19, 2010

Rare Madeira....

Order a piece of history!!
Pre-Arrival offer
We have a great offering for some extremely rare and old Madeira. Call 314-727-8788 to place an order. We will have to confirm your order with the importer as these are very rare.


"And one of the best things about Madeira? A little glass goes a long way to satisfying a wine thirst, and then the open bottle can be kept indefinitely, as the wine is already oxidized during the vinification. It’s the only “cooked” wine that’s good to drink (hence the term maderized for poorly stored wines that show overly mature characteristics)." -- James Molesworth, The Wine Spectator

Madeira is a fortified wine like port -- alcohol is added to stop fermentation.

There are four major grapes used (here they are from driest to sweetest)
Sercial: Driest Madeira - Less than 1.5 percent residual sugar.

Verdelho: Between 1.5 to 2.5 percent residual sugar.
Bual: Between 2.5 to 3.5 percent residual sugar.
Malmsey (Malvasia): Sweetest -- 4 percent residual sugar.
And the much more rare (almost extinct) Terrantez grape that was mostly destroyed by desease like phyloxera (only about 1,100 pounds are harvested each year)


Read more about Madeira from the Rare Wine Co.


I have included reviews where I have found them.


Barbeito (Madeira)
1978 Bual.............$109.99
1982 Bual.............$109.99
1978 Sercial.........$109.99
1981 Verdelho.....$109.99



D'Oliveira (Madeira)
1908 Bual.......$439.99
"The 1908 Boal Reserva from D’Oliveiras is an unctuous, full-bodied wine loaded with dark maple syrup, tar, leather, licorice and sweet baking spices. There is superb density here and the wine shows terrific length in an intense style. The finish is long, bright and sweet."
Rated 94/100 The Wine Advocate

1922 Bual......$379.99
"Incredibly rich on the nose, showing molasses, chocolate and coffee as well as a singed quality. The sweet, concentrated chocolate and molasses flavors have a smooth, silky texture and the cut of high acidity to balance the sweet richness, finishing on the astringent side. Drink now. –BS"
Rated 93/100 The Wine Spectator


1958 Bual......$249.99

1968 Bual........$134.99
The 1968 D’Oliveiras Reserva Boal is a medium-bodied, elegant wine that features high-toned aromas and flavors, with subtle notes of smoke and tar adding complexity. This is an unusually understated showing for the 1968 Boal.
Rated 93/100 The Wine Advocate

1977 Bual..........$99.99
The 1977 D’Oliveiras Boal Reserva reveals superb depth and precision in its leather, spices, toffee and espresso. Smooth and remarkably balanced on the palate, this Madeira offers tons of length and plenty of style.
Rated 94/100 The Wine Advocate

1983 Bual Harvest......$99.99

1907 Malvasia......$499.99

1987 Malvasia..........$92.99

The 1987 Malmsey from D’Oliveiras is a gorgeous, feminine offering endowed with notes of chocolate, sweet spices and flowers that are intricately woven into medium to full-bodied frame. This beautifully balanced wine possesses notable harmony and finesse.
Rated 92/100 The Wine Advocate

1937 Sercial.....$269.99
Full of verve, this Madeira is deep amber in color, with a fresh, complex bouquet evoking cocoa, caramel and a hint of iodine. The lovely butterscotch flavor marries well with the lively structure and is followed by a dry, nutty finish. Drink now. –BS
Rated 93/100 The Wine Spectator

1969 Sercial.........$131.99

1912 Verdelho......$379.99
1973 Verdelho.....$119.99

1977 Terrantez......$119.99
1988 Terrantez........$81.99

"The D’Oliveiras 1988 Terrantez is a wine that invites a moment of quiet contemplation, making it the perfect wine with which to end this incredible tasting. There is a highly attractive creaminess as layers of roasted nuts, cloves and leather open up in the glass. This generous, sweet Terrantez offers outstanding length, with lingering notes of sweetness and acidity that intermingled on the, intensely satisfying finish."
Rated 93/100 The Wine Advocate



Rare Wine Co. (Madeira)

Affordable Madeiras are typically blended for uniformity but, with this project, we seek to create highly individual wines—wines that display uniquely the combinations of acidity, concentration, aromatics, and richness that mark the finest Madeira. By working with small lots, we are able to include parcels of old wine (many exceeding 30 years old) which give the wines the character of Vintage Madeira. The source and age of these parcels may vary from lot to lot, but they will always help to achieve a more expressive result.

The Wines. To emphasize America’s deep historical connection to Madeira, each wine in the series is named for a U.S. city where Madeira was popular in the 18th and 19th centuries. Thus, the series offers Boston Bual Special Reserve, New York Malmsey Special Reserve, and Charleston Sercial Special Reserve.



Historic Series "Boston" Boal.......$35.99
"Slightly richer than the Charleston Sercial, the Boston Bual boasts knockout aromas of toasted nut oil, orange peel and hints of dark honey or maple syrup. Despite the extra weight and sweetness, it’s not cloying at all—the finish is mouthwatering and long. - J.C. (10/31/2006)"
Rated 93/100 Wine Enthusiast

Historic Series "New York" Malmsey......$35.99
"The sweetest and richest in the Historic series, the New York Malmsey unfolds slowly in the glass, gradually revealing layers of depth and flavor. Coffee, toffee and date notes emerge, followed by earthy, almost truffley flavors. Powerful and assertive on the long finish. - J.C. (10/31/2006)
Rated 93/100 The Wine Enthusiast


Historic Series "Charleston" Sercial.....$35.99
"The Historic Series are simply great Madeiras at reasonable prices. The Charleston Sercial is the driest of the collection, offering nutty aromas tinged with honey, caramel and maple syrup. Dried figs, honey and candied citrus flavors mark the palate, which is wonderfully smooth. The long finish features racy yet balanced acidity. - J.C. (10/31/2006)"
Rated 93/100 The Wine Enthusiast

Historic Series "Imperial" Malmsey $129.99
"This wine is magical : as seductive for its astonishing complexity as it is for its gorgeous balance and texture. Its color is a glowing light mahogany and like any great Malmsey, it perfectly balances sweetness with acidity, leaving the palate refreshed. But it is the aromas and flavors that are most dramatic. Its nuances are of a very old wine, profoundly complex and deep, with explosive notes of figs, mocha, coffee, caramel and smoke. Both classic and compelling—if you’re like us, you'll return to this wine again and again. " -- Rare Wine Co.


Historic Series “New Orleans” limited availability $55.99
"In the Spring of 2007, we released a limited bottling of New Orleans Special Reserve, based on the rare Terrantez grape, to raise funds and awareness for post-Katrina cultural activities in New Orleans. Each bottle bears an early engraving from that city, along with a back label describing the wine and America’s special link to Madeira’s illustrious history." -- Rare Wine Co.




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