April 18, 2022 - It's fine, but touch more sweetness would offer more charm.
April 1, 2019 - Glass pour at a restaurant. Very good overall. Nose with dried orange peel, candied walnut, chocolate, butterscotch, raisin, fruitcake, a hint of dried fig, some VA, and a dried floral note. The palate is delightfully fresh and lifted. Almost more verdehlo like than bual but has lovely depth and concentration with a bright acidity on the finish. Really tasty
January 21, 2018 - Bottled in 2004. Popped and poured. Very rich, but a bit unbalanced, with the flavors overwhelmingly veering towards honey and butterscotch; loads of VA and varnish-like notes. I will let this sit for a few days to see how it evolves. UPDATE: On day two, this did integrate a bit, gaining a fudge chocolate character and the acids a bit more palatable.
May 8, 2017 - Bottled in 2004, after 36 years of aging in casks. Total production some 4100 bottles.
Deep mahogany color with a bronze hue. Very sweet, perfumed and attractive nose with aromas of sweet yellow raisin, bitter orange zest, christmas spices, rum raisins, some red raspberry fruit, a little hint of alcohol and nice little volatile lift. On the palate the wine if full-bodied and quite sweet with somewhat oily mouthfeel yet with moderately high acidity. There are incredibly complex flavors of lemon marmalade, slightly bitter spiciness, some bruised apple and apple jam, a little cardamom and hints of peanut butter and roasted almonds. The finish is both sweet and dry, thanks to the very mature and oxidative flavors making the wine appear sweet, and the acidity cleaning away most of the residual sugar. The aftertaste is really long and complex with layered flavors of bitter lemon pith, maple syrup, cloves, some woody nuttiness, light raisiny and pruney fruit character, hints of christmas spices and a touch of cigar smoke. There is also a slightest hint of grippy feel towards the end of the aftertaste.
In a tasting of Madeiras 1895 to 1973, this was my 3rd favorite wine, after the two +100 yo Madeiras. There is incredible richness, complexity and balance here; you could just sniff the wine for hours and the aftertaste is incredibly persistent, almost endless. Although this is still relatively young for a Madeira, this among some of the greatest fortified wines I've tasted. Nevertheless, I feel that the price tag of whopping 800€ is a bit excessive.
April 18, 2017 - Caramel, raisin, cafe con leche, roasted almond, green wine grape. Tastes young. Bright acidity. A little lighter and drier than expected. Medium-plus, high-toned finish. 92 with upside.
January 27, 2017 - Less charming and immediate than the 10 years old. It didn't show much nose while the taste was complex and interesting: It is less sweet and creamy than the younger wine and shows primarily smoke and old American oak.
February 1, 2016 - Madeira Pilgrimage; 2/1/2016-2/4/2016 (Madeira): Dark brown color. Smells of rum cake, raisins, caramel and roasted dates. On the palate, it’s long and creamy with lots of richness but plenty of vibrancy as well. Caramel, dates, almonds, honey, brown sugar, a whole lot of complexity here. Finishes long with all sorts of roasted nut nuances.
September 1, 2015 - This Madeira was served at Blandy's Funchal head office. Tasted after a tour. Wine was stored in barrel from 1968-2004. Color was good, but due to lighting I could not provide more details. This wine has the most outstanding smell of passion fruit on the nose along with wonderful old cellar woods. Lots of vanilla and burnt toast. Very acidic, which I would assume means that the wine will last for quite some time. Simply outstanding. Drink now through 2065, maybe longer. Alcohol 21 percent.
Winery notes: "Blandy's Vintage Bual 1968 is a singel harvest Madeira. This wine was age for 36 years in seasoned American oak casks in the traditional "canteiro" system whereby the casks were gradually transferred fro the top floors of the lodge, where it is naturally warmer, to the middle floors and eventually to the ground floor where it is cooler. the wine is regularly racked and when it reaches the desired stage of maturity it was bottled. Only 4107 bottles of this wine were released."
"Clear, golden brown color with golden green tinges at the rim. Intense and complex characteristic bouquet of Madeira with notes of toffee, wood, vanilla and chocolate. Full-bodied and medium sweet, with mellow fruit that provides a long and warm aftertaste."
August 9, 2015 - What a treat! Dark, tarry appearance. Nose of hazelnut, brandy, vanilla. Complex palate. Raisin, apricot, vanilla, caramel, soot. Warm and cozy.
April 10, 2015 - First taste of any madeira. Looks like port, expected port-like, but came across fresh, acidic, lots of caramel & coffee. Expected a dessert wine finish, yet its a little short, almost a feel of "a bit diluted" finish. Refreshing acidic finish.