1977 H.M. Borges Madeira Boal

Community Tasting Notes (10) Avg Score: 92.8 points

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  12/18/2022 - gouldcampbell77 Likes this wine: 95 Points

  Decanted 48hrs
  
  Rich dark mahogany with green tints. Some grainy sediment at the bottom of the decanter but the wine itself is crystal clear. Quite a volatile nose - spirit, varnish, shoe polish and Christmas cake. On the palate, full and round and definitely on the sweeter/richer end of the boal spectrum. However, there is such grip and tension throughout that the balance is exquisite. There's a lovely lingering sweetness on the finish which reminds me of those soft dried apricots but the acidity stays on the tongue and counters this perfectly. A lovely caramel and brandy aftertaste stays long after the wine itself is gone.
  
  This is really impressive. Definitely on the richer/darker end of the spectrum and I expect there's plenty of caramel added here but it's a beautifully balanced wine nonetheless. I can't imagine a better companion on a cold rainy December night sat in by an open fire just chilling. Delightful.
  
  (Bottled in 2008. 31yrs in wood. 1,800 bottles)

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  8/19/2020 - Seth Rosenberg wrote:

  Last of the bottle. The nose shows a slap of VA, some varnish, molasses, brown sugar, a bit of rancio, bitter, earth, a bit of nuttiness, lemon juice. The palate is brown with molasses, salty nuttiness, a nice vein of sweetness underneath.

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  1/5/2020 - Seth Rosenberg Likes this wine: 94 Points

  Same bottle. I like how this is mellowing and opening over time. Nutty with some salt/saline, raisins, coffee (Olga nailed this), toffee, and citrus peel. Palate is bright with excellent acid/sugar balance - just a touch volatile, nutty and citrus peel, toffee. Very potent and bright. Long nutty, salty/sweet and citrus peel finish. Delicious. Nose - 5/6, Palate - 5/6, Finish - 5.5/6, Je ne Sais Quoi - 1.5/2 = 17/20.

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  3/10/2019 - Seth Rosenberg Likes this wine: 93 Points

  This is the leftovers from the decant. A heavy-sized pour (maybe 40ml) with a fair amount of sediment. Was double decanted (poorly) about a week ago - I let the bottle settle and decanted again. Complex nose of nuts, orange peel, some earth/ burnt rubber. Some VA. Excellent on the palate with great acid snap - orange peel and zest, nice brown toffee note, salty nuts. The finish is similar with a little volatility. 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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  11/16/2018 - mdefreitas wrote: 91 Points

  Darker than the 1990 Sercial opened next to it. A bit of a muted nose. Dryish for a Boal, with a spicy, figgy palate. Seems a bit flat at first, but this improved with air, becoming more juicy. A bit of VA detracted slightly.

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