April 4, 2023 - This is such an excellent dessert wine, full of cocoa and coffee flavour but somehow delicate and refreshing - it matched the dessert but drank like a dry wine. Pretty figgy, but not as nutty as Madeira often tends to be. Attention-grabbing without being overbearing; I could easily have had another glass.
March 6, 2023 - Nose - marmalade,
Absolutely gorgeous, sweet and then perfectly balanced acidity. Long and nutty.
December 15, 2022 - Very nice flavours of coffee, whalnuts, candied oranges, worcester sauce, tamarin. Semi sweat, balance on light bitter, middle acidity and hot alcohol wich disparate with the second sip. A super muscular fortified wine. Expensive, expansive. Recommended with a cigar or just before
November 13, 2021 - Agree with notes that say this improves after being opened for a few days. Initially a bit heavy and monolithic. After two weeks there is much better balance and zip to counteract the sweet and walnut syrup palate that also has coffee ground notes. Very nice. (92)
October 26, 2020 - At its best when the bottle has been open for at least a few months. Rich spiced walnut sort of aroma, with nice presence and depth. Similar on the palate, like candied green walnut, orange peel and spices, with plenty of acidity and a streak of bitterness to counterbalance the medium level of sweetness. Drinks practically like a (really good) amaro. Delicious, fun wine.
March 15, 2019 - I had the benefit of being able to compare this against the H&H 20-yr-old Verdelho, the H&H 2000 single harvest Bual (which I think came on the market towards the end of 2015), and the H&H 20-yr-old Terrantez. This was not in a single tasting, but through ownership of the bottles and repeatedly tasting them over an extended period.
I have learned through experience that Madeira even of this type definitely benefits from being open for a day or so before you drink it. Don’t open it and expect it to be immediately at its best. It does survive indefinitely after opening and doesn’t require chilling.
The Malvasia is at a similar level of concentration to the other 20-yr-olds, and a bit more than the single harvest Bual. It is a lot sweeter than the Bual, but retaining a good acid/sugar balance and a clean finish. It has a lovely figgy nose, and a wonderful long clean finish which to me has a coffee-like flavour. Rather to my surprise this was my favourite wine of the line-up, since I have not in the past favoured Malvasia. I have had I number of ancient vintage Malvasia wines in the past, and this is most definitely a good echo of them. This wine is dark, but nothing like the used car oil appearance of some other such wines I have had in the past. So I would imagine that any caramel colouring that unfortunately is widely used is light or avoided.
February 3, 2016 - Madeira Pilgrimage; 2/1/2016-2/4/2016 (Madeira): Smooth, rich, spicy, velvety, full of complex flavors. Gorgeous stuff.
February 1, 2016 - Madeira Pilgrimage; 2/1/2016-2/4/2016 (Madeira): Deep, dark aromas of plum cake, raisin and eucalyptus. So silky and sexy on the palate, velvety and rich but not heavy. Complex elements of almond, honeycomb, clove and eucalyptus. A very balanced and harmonious wine.
August 26, 2015 - 24 hour decant.
Yes, very nice - pale coffee coloured with small legs - rancio nose with coffee, figs, raisins, loads of things - in the mouth deep and full and complex - some orange, nuts, brown sugar (the good stuff), caramel - all hovering on the acid and alcohol - long finish.
April 18, 2015 - A real beauty, the brown sugar sweetness just part of a complex and deep whole. I wish it didn't give me such a headache the next morning.