Bottled in the 80s and still plenty fresh. A vg Malmsey with deftly balanced sweetness, good drive and depth and a long, caressing finish. Fine indeed. Sadly, I did not get to try and day two or three - I think it was certain to have developed/improved even more. Beautiful effort that will live for many more years. highly recommended
Mom & Dad’s birth year! Concerned initially on receipt as hard wax was partially crumbled, IVM seal slightly torn and signs of slight leakage. Forged ahead nonetheless and all was well in the end. Initially cloudy on decanting. This dissipated after a couple days revealing a rich dark mahogany color. Offers lovely aromas of sultana, fig, caramel, brown sugar, walnuts, and orange peel. Ethereal presence on the palate similar to light pancake syrup that is juxtaposed with well measured acidity. Winds effortlessly along to an incredibly long salty finish. Six days in and this just keeps getting better! Gorgeous Malmsey.
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A private lunch with friends (at home): Second bottle from a full case purchased at auction in 2020. Stopper cork under a hard wax capsule. IVM seal. Decanted. Amber golden colour with green reflections. Immediately after opening the wine was very salty and quite tough, but it opened up pretty quickly to a very rewarding experience, and it continue to develop in the decanter on the second day. Wonderfully expressive Malmsey, sweet and honeyed and nutty, vanilla and orange marmalade, deep and rich but elegant and playful, tangy acidity is well integrated, sweet and complete finish with a nice salty kick, excellent length. A very fine Ma;lmsey.
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Same bottle as before. This had a lot of VA when this glass was first poured but it seems to have burned off. Nutty and rancio with some brown sugar notes and spicy. Palate shows the rancio and nuttiness as well and then a beautiful crisp sweetness drives into the finish. Not quite caramel with maybe hints of orange peel. Very spicy. Long nutty and sweet finish. Nose - 5/6, Palate - 5.5/6, Finish - 5/6, Je ne Sais Quoi - 1-1.5/2 = 16.5-17/20.
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Given the notes from others (including the very helpful Xavier A.), I decanted this and let it sit for days. Just trying the dregs from the bottle when popped. I think we are at day 4 now, so that would be about right if it was bottled in the 80's. The nose is good right now, not great - with some dark nuts, molasses or brown sugar, a hint of rancio. The palate is excellent, with similar flavors and maybe a bit of orange rind/peel, but the mouthfeel is just great - spherical and grippy but so resolved and calm. This feeling only builds into the finish which is light and almost explosive with waves of rancio, orange and orange peel, caramel/molasses. Really good now, and it might even improve a bit in the next few days/weeks. Nose - 5/6, Palate - 5-5.5/6, Finish - 5.5/6, Je ne Sais Quoi - 1.5/2 = 17-17.5/20.
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First bottle from a full case purchased at auction in 2020. Stopper cork under a hard wax capsule. IVM seal. Decanted. Medium amber golden colour with a clear green rim. Quite dry and salty immediately after opnening. Needs 24 hours in the decanter to develop its complexity. Powerful and concentrated, tangy acidity, saddle leather and salty wood, vestiges of candied fruit, delicate silky sweetness, noticeable bitters, slightly austere finish but outstanding persistence. Impressive stuff. Even more harmonious and rounded on the third and fourth days. Really benefits from ample time in the decanter, the harmony on the palate and complexity of the aromatic expression are completely intact on the sixth day.
Tasted at Bern's Copper color, slightly murky Nose of butterscotch, praline. Palate shows nice sweetness with balancing bitterness. On the finish, the bitterness leads. Nice enough, but I expected a lot more based on Roy's notes.
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The wine is somewhat cloudy. Was suspicious because of that but the wine is in great shape, complex nose of coffee, malt, dried figues. Very rich and powerful, quite sweet, but with a good acidity to balance.
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Dark brown coffee color and not very clear. Beautiful bouquet with coffee, chocolate, earth and sweet spices. On the palate chocolate, coffee and caramel, some orange and soft bitterness. Beside the sweetness there is beautiful fresh acidity. Great length. A beauty!
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Bottle was weathered, capsule/wax disitegrating, cork came out intact. This wine was a little cloudy and golden-brown in color. It has excellent acidity and fine notes of brown butterr, toffee, nuts and that tangy lime. Excellent. This madeira improved over several days gaining clarity and complexity.
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Wonderful nose of honey, raisin, hints of chocolate, a little smoke...still great acidity and bite for a 73 yr old wine. Just enough tartness on the finish suggests that it could last 10-20 more yrs.
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Dry old coffee and rancio nose. Surprisingly concentrated given the nose but really nicely balanced old wine with a great limey tang and proper sweetness. Very good.
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Labelled Kopke Madeira Malvazia Vintage 1933 Sweet, Wine Produced and Bottled by Vinhos Justino Henriques & Filhos Lda, Sta. Cruz for C.N. Kopke & Ca., Lda. Bottled 27 March 1998. Very intense colour, medium-deep, green rim; excellent depth on the nose, not very sweet, caramel and nuts, clean and powerful, burnt character, needs a lot of oxygen, rich but impenetrable; sublime playful acidity, good weight, wonderful sève, medium-sweet, harmonious, elegant, nutty flavours, floral and spicy topnotes; amazing length.
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2/19/2024 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine:
Bottled in the 80s and still plenty fresh. A vg Malmsey with deftly balanced sweetness, good drive and depth and a long, caressing finish. Fine indeed. Sadly, I did not get to try and day two or three - I think it was certain to have developed/improved even more. Beautiful effort that will live for many more years. highly recommended
https://www.ItalianWine.blog
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7/16/2023 - Irish_Wine Likes this wine: 90 Points
Certainly an interesting wine. Sweetness and tannins mostly resolved. Like a boozy Christmas cake. Long finish.
WSET notes:
Medium brown.
Pronounced on the nose with prune, currant, beeswax, caramel, earth, wet leaves, walnut. Fully developed.
Pronounced on and medium dry on the palate. Medium plus body, high alcohol, medium mostly resolved tannins, long finish.
Can drink now but has potential for aging!
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6/7/2023 - SouthernStateofMind wrote:
Mom & Dad’s birth year! Concerned initially on receipt as hard wax was partially crumbled, IVM seal slightly torn and signs of slight leakage. Forged ahead nonetheless and all was well in the end. Initially cloudy on decanting. This dissipated after a couple days revealing a rich dark mahogany color. Offers lovely aromas of sultana, fig, caramel, brown sugar, walnuts, and orange peel. Ethereal presence on the palate similar to light pancake syrup that is juxtaposed with well measured acidity. Winds effortlessly along to an incredibly long salty finish. Six days in and this just keeps getting better! Gorgeous Malmsey.
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11/5/2022 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 96 Points
A private lunch with friends (at home): Second bottle from a full case purchased at auction in 2020. Stopper cork under a hard wax capsule. IVM seal. Decanted. Amber golden colour with green reflections. Immediately after opening the wine was very salty and quite tough, but it opened up pretty quickly to a very rewarding experience, and it continue to develop in the decanter on the second day. Wonderfully expressive Malmsey, sweet and honeyed and nutty, vanilla and orange marmalade, deep and rich but elegant and playful, tangy acidity is well integrated, sweet and complete finish with a nice salty kick, excellent length. A very fine Ma;lmsey.
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9/16/2022 - Seth Rosenberg Likes this wine: 93 Points
Same bottle as before. This had a lot of VA when this glass was first poured but it seems to have burned off. Nutty and rancio with some brown sugar notes and spicy. Palate shows the rancio and nuttiness as well and then a beautiful crisp sweetness drives into the finish. Not quite caramel with maybe hints of orange peel. Very spicy. Long nutty and sweet finish. Nose - 5/6, Palate - 5.5/6, Finish - 5/6, Je ne Sais Quoi - 1-1.5/2 = 16.5-17/20.
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5/20/2022 - Seth Rosenberg Likes this wine: 94 Points
Given the notes from others (including the very helpful Xavier A.), I decanted this and let it sit for days. Just trying the dregs from the bottle when popped. I think we are at day 4 now, so that would be about right if it was bottled in the 80's. The nose is good right now, not great - with some dark nuts, molasses or brown sugar, a hint of rancio. The palate is excellent, with similar flavors and maybe a bit of orange rind/peel, but the mouthfeel is just great - spherical and grippy but so resolved and calm. This feeling only builds into the finish which is light and almost explosive with waves of rancio, orange and orange peel, caramel/molasses. Really good now, and it might even improve a bit in the next few days/weeks. Nose - 5/6, Palate - 5-5.5/6, Finish - 5.5/6, Je ne Sais Quoi - 1.5/2 = 17-17.5/20.
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12/17/2021 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 95 Points
First bottle from a full case purchased at auction in 2020. Stopper cork under a hard wax capsule. IVM seal. Decanted. Medium amber golden colour with a clear green rim. Quite dry and salty immediately after opnening. Needs 24 hours in the decanter to develop its complexity. Powerful and concentrated, tangy acidity, saddle leather and salty wood, vestiges of candied fruit, delicate silky sweetness, noticeable bitters, slightly austere finish but outstanding persistence. Impressive stuff. Even more harmonious and rounded on the third and fourth days. Really benefits from ample time in the decanter, the harmony on the palate and complexity of the aromatic expression are completely intact on the sixth day.
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5/29/2021 - Matthesen Likes this wine: 90 Points
Tasted at Bern's
Copper color, slightly murky
Nose of butterscotch, praline.
Palate shows nice sweetness with balancing bitterness. On the finish, the bitterness leads. Nice enough, but I expected a lot more based on Roy's notes.
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3/24/2017 - theportguy wrote: 93 Points
20 Year Old Tawny Ports (Sammamish, Washington): Amber orange in color with some sediment. Sea salt and cedar notes on the nose. Full and rich palate. Great balance and very long finish.
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12/11/2015 - tinybubbles Likes this wine: 93 Points
Fig and dried cherry, faint spice, clementine peel, faint chocolate, molasses. Lower acid than I expected. 93-94
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5/12/2013 - humagne wrote: 95 Points
The wine is somewhat cloudy. Was suspicious because of that but the wine is in great shape, complex nose of coffee, malt, dried figues. Very rich and powerful, quite sweet, but with a good acidity to balance.
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1/25/2013 - vindictive wrote:
another great bottle
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9/6/2012 - Zweder wrote: 94 Points
Dark brown coffee color and not very clear. Beautiful bouquet with coffee, chocolate, earth and sweet spices. On the palate chocolate, coffee and caramel, some orange and soft bitterness. Beside the sweetness there is beautiful fresh acidity. Great length. A beauty!
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11/10/2011 - vindictive wrote:
Bottle was weathered, capsule/wax disitegrating, cork came out intact. This wine was a little cloudy and golden-brown in color. It has excellent acidity and fine notes of brown butterr, toffee, nuts and that tangy lime. Excellent. This madeira improved over several days gaining clarity and complexity.
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12/25/2007 - samer wrote: 93 Points
Wonderful nose of honey, raisin, hints of chocolate, a little smoke...still great acidity and bite for a 73 yr old wine. Just enough tartness on the finish suggests that it could last 10-20 more yrs.
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10/28/2006 - psmith wrote:
Dry old coffee and rancio nose. Surprisingly concentrated given the nose but really nicely balanced old wine with a great limey tang and proper sweetness. Very good.
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1/16/1999 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 95 Points
Labelled Kopke Madeira Malvazia Vintage 1933 Sweet, Wine Produced and Bottled by Vinhos Justino Henriques & Filhos Lda, Sta. Cruz for C.N. Kopke & Ca., Lda. Bottled 27 March 1998. Very intense colour, medium-deep, green rim; excellent depth on the nose, not very sweet, caramel and nuts, clean and powerful, burnt character, needs a lot of oxygen, rich but impenetrable; sublime playful acidity, good weight, wonderful sève, medium-sweet, harmonious, elegant, nutty flavours, floral and spicy topnotes; amazing length.
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