December 4, 2022 - Polished the remainder of this bottle off with some Malted Milk Ice Cream. Unreal combination. Despite being relatively austere initially, after being open for about a year this wine was gorgeous. On the nose: Orange oil, dried mushroom, espresso, raisin, and alder wood smoke. On the palate: Salted toffee, bitter orange, toasted hazelnut, espresso, and rum-soaked raisin. While the acid and salinity did keep this relatively light on the tongue, it is really a wine to be enjoyed in very small pours as the RS made it occasionally quite cloying. I can imagine though that it has all the components for a very very long life ahead.
August 31, 2022 - The wine is made with purchased Boal grapes. After 3-4 days of fermentation, the must is rectified to approx. 20% ABV with 96% ABV grape spirit to halt the fermentation. The fortified wine is transferred to old oak casks which are moved to age in Canteiros, ie. in warm warehouses in which the wines age in casks that are never topped up. 20% alcohol. Bottled in 2021, after 53 years of aging in casks, labeled as "Medium Sweet".
Very deep, concentrated and dark mahogany brown color. Brooding, dark-toned and somewhat sweet nose with restrained, layered aromas of caramel and treacle, some raisiny tones, a little bit of dried dates, light smoky notes of cigar, a hint of Christmas spices, a touch of allspice and a whiff of bruised apple. The wine feels sweet, powerful and very intense on the palate with a moderately full body and concentrated flavors of lemony citrus fruits and sharp Granny Smith apple, caramel tones, some sweet nuances of quince jam, a little bit of burnt sugar bitterness, light balsamic undertones, dried-fruit hints of raisins and dried dates and a touch of tobacco. The very high acidity lends great sense of structure and freshness to the wine despite its quite noticeable residual sugar sweetness. The finish is crisp, lively and exceptionally persistent with intense, sweetish flavors of crunchy green apples, some pipe tobacco, a little bit of treacle, light notes of quince jam, a hint of raisiny dark fruits and a touch of burnt sugar bitterness.
An outstanding, remarkably complex and so balanced Boal. The balance between the rather pronounced yet not noticeably high sweetness, the bright and almost lemony acidity and the concentrated yet not particularly heavy body is perfectly on point here. A riveting wine by all accounts. While the wine won't evolve any further from here, it won't fall apart either. Drink now or over the next two centuries. At 300€ this wine doesn't come cheap, but then again, it honestly offers something no other style of wine can.
October 15, 2021 - Has got more aroma as Boal 1977 (I was side comparing); it's also more sweet (with 94 residual sugar) which was evident even in the aroma. Flavors of toffee, caramel, bitter orange, and apricot.
November 17, 2020 - Somehow a little less impressive tonight.
The alcohol showed through a little too much and you're left wishing for more evolved flavors as it seemed slightly disjointed and in need of additional time. It was perhaps also served slightly too warm.
Still enjoyable but not what it needs to be...
December 21, 2019 - WAG Holiday Hedonism Tasting: A close second for WOTN, the nose is better than the palate (98 to 94, so both are outstanding). Nuts, caramel, fig, dried apricot/pineapple and orange rind. It goes on and on, still great 3 days later. Now-great grandchildren.
January 11, 2019 - Holiday dinner at the French Embassy, Washington D.C. (French Embassy): Tasted after the Colheita 66, this is a very different wine to be sure. But I took a bit more enjoyment from it, as it seemed a tad fuller bodied on the palate. Along with fig and grilled almond, I got lots of spice as well. Not as sweet an impression as the the Tawny and maybe I just liked the vivacity here more, which came across as seafaring mariner saltiness that beckoned further drinking, which I did. No serious notes taken, but coming from memory the next day.
October 12, 2018 - Gorgeous depth of flavor, effortless balance, packed with marmalade, nuts, flowers, black tea, sea salt, caramel, but it's fresh and nuaced and vibrant too.
January 30, 2018 - Very enjoyable. This was very young for a Madeira, but very nice nonetheless. The nose was a lovely melange of almonds, mahogany and dried figs with just that tiny hit of penicillin. It was really youthful on the palate, with rich but delicious notes of preserved sour cherries, plums and prunes laced with a nice bit of dark chocolate and spice in a really long finish, all this still spiked with a lovely bit of juicy, orangey acidity. Marvellous - this was complex and compelling, yet still so very young and primary and incredibly fresh - this will probably last another 100 years.
July 15, 2017 - What a beautiful Madeira and it is still so young. I hope to taste this again in 20-30 years...Impeccable balance and terrific complexity. To be enjoyed on its own or perhaps a savory short bread
March 20, 2017 - Second day since opening with about 1/4 of the bottle left. Continuation of earlier note
The same symphony, the same beauty. This is a must buy more wine. 95 once again