Tag Archives: madeira

Blandy’s Madeira Bual 10 years

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Blandy’s Madeira Wine was founded in 1811 by John Blandy that came to Madeira to be treated for his illness in the warm climate and to work in the banking sector. The company is still on family hands and is today run by the 6th generation.

I got this 19%, 500 ml bottle of Blandy’s Madeira Bual 10 years as a gift. Approximate value is around 31 Euro.

The bual grapes are used for the medium sweet wines.

Dark orange and amber in the colour, with play of yellow tones. Heavy curtains on the side of the glass after a slinging, slowly descending.

A aroma that is heavy on the dried fruits, sweet with a nice scent of burned caramel but also with some alcohol in it.

Good body with a faint hint of oak from the barrels, good warmth, some alcohol and sweet raisins in the after taste, a good mix of dried fruits.

Overall rating is 89 / 100

Blandy’s Bual 1977

Blandy’s Madeira Wine was founded in 1811 by John Blandy that came to Madeira to be treated for his illness in the warm climate and to work in the banking sector. The company is still on family hands and is today run by the 6th generation.

I bought this 20%, 750 ml bottle of Blandy’s 1977 Bual in a local wine store in Funchal on the island of Madeira at the price 101,5 Euro.

The bual grapes are used for the medium sweet wines.

This wine was matured on oak cask for 32 years and was bottled in 2009. A total of 1666 bottles was filled.

A dark golden colour fills the glass and the alcohol sticks to the sides of the glass leaving it with rounded figures to set apart from the sharp lines of the glass.

A aroma and taste with such complexity that it is hard to describe, very intensive at first but as the wine settles in the mouth the taste grows and grows on you. A sweet taste that stays for so long and is so intense that even half a glass is enough to enjoy this delicious wine. A easy to drink madeira that lands perfectly in the middle of the vintage years, good price to the taste.

Overall rating is 93 / 100

Henriques & Henriques Madeira 5 Year Finest Full Rich and Fine Old Malmsay No.1

The Henriques & Henriques 5 Year Reserve Finest Full Rich was bought on the Island of Madeira during a holiday visit.

The Henriques & Henriques Madeira Fine Old Malmsay No.1 was bought on a auction with some other wines and given to me as a gift from a friend.

From the research I have been able to make about the wine shop that once sold this old bottle, Kolding Vinhandel and named with the owner Christian Friis, he was part of the company between 1910 and 1923, the 3rd generation took over the wine shop in 1943, this does not go to well with the writings on the label about it winning awards in 1929 and 1930. After contact with Henriques & Henriques they could confirm that it is a 5 year Madeira and somewhere around 75 years old.

The Henriques & Henriques 5 Year Reserve Finest Full Rich

The wine is red with brown notes to the colour.

Aroma comes off with a dried fruits and alcohol.

Strong taste of dried fruits like raisins, some tannin, warm and strong in the throat, easy to drink and after taste of about 30 seconds. A straight forward and solid taste of dried fruits and nothing more.

Overall rating 85 / 100

The Henriques & Henriques Madeira Fine Old Malmsay No.1

The wine is brown with some red notes to the colour.

Semi sweet aroma and the alcohol dominates.

A very sweet taste of dried fruits, a complex mix of fruits, very little tannin and the alcohol is pleasant. A very enjoyable after taste of dried fruits that lasts a good while. It can however seem dull in large glasses and it was never a wine meant for maturing.

Overall rating 89 / 100

Blandy’s Bual Colheita 1996

Blandy’s Madeira Wine was founded in 1811 by John Blandy that came to Madeira to be treated for his illness in the warm climate and to work in the banking sector. The company is still on family hands and is today run by the 6th generation.

I bought this 20%, 500 ml bottle of Blandy’s 1996 Bual Colheita in the Blandy’s wine store in airport on the island of Madeira at the price 39 Euro.

The bual grapes are used for the medium sweet wines. This single harvest Colheita wine was bottled ready to drink and does therefore not posses a ageing potential as the vintage wines.

This wine was matured on oak cask for 15 years and was bottled in 2011. This was from cask 24071/2 and bottle number 1469. A total of 3000 bottles was filled.

A golden colour fills the glass and the alcohol sticks to the sides of the glass leaving nicely rounded curtains to set apart from the sharp line.

A sweet aroma with the pinch of alcohol, but nothing too strong to put out the pleasure of enjoying its aroma before tasting. A short sting of acid and a split second later the sweet flavour floats around the tongue. Best served in regular quantities as the taste fades within a minute. A good Madeira that was well enjoyed during Christmas by my family and I.

Overall rating is 90 / 100