The Great Terrantez Tasting -- time/place TBD

[Eric Menchen]

For those looking for bottles, I came across these in the Zachy's auction next week, with their bid estimates (+buyers premium):
Lot #412 – 2x Madeira Terrantez Barbeito 1795 $4000-6000
Lot #685 – 1x Madeira “Deus as Fez” Terrantez 1842 $500-800
Lot #686 – 1x Madeira Terrantez Borges 1846 $1000-1500

[Steve Pollack]

Reidar, my 1905 T is a Blandy's.

[Reidar Andersen]

Maybe count me in with Oscar 1802 Terrantez ???

[Eric Ifune]

Hoping to participate. I'll know my schedule better in a couple of months.

[Niklas J]

Wow! What a tasting you're planning! Sounds awesome and surely a once in a lifetime experience.

Best,

Niklas

[Stewart T.]

Sounds like a great event is in the work - count me in!

[Shawn Denkler]

Terrantez is always so rare that I do not have any in my cellar, but I have a year to find some. Please count me in, it will be an amazing tasting that will be hard to duplicate, these are getting to be very rare.

[Eric Ifune]

I'll go ahead and commit to 10 March. Likely to be a once in a lifetime event so I'll just have to do whatever is necessary to make it! I've a few bottles I can bring.

[Marco D.]

I'll go ahead and commit to 10 March. Likely to be a once in a lifetime event so I'll just have to do whatever is necessary to make it! I've a few bottles I can bring.

It wouldn't be a Madeira tasting without you. Glad you could commit, especially since it was your idea to originally do this...

[Reidar Andersen]

I am 100% in..Will arrive 2-3 days ahead...

[Roy Hersh]

What I am about to say ... is not going to be popular, but I am going to shoot straight nonetheless.

Given the "epic" scope of the bottles of Terrantez being discussed for this Madeira Party, it will wind up being smaller in size and limited to best bottles only. There will likely be two guests from the industry, who will have to contribute a bottle as well. Additionally, another 10-12 availabilities overall as a maximum. When people are talking about 1846 and 1802 and 1795, bottles that would likely cost $1200-$3500 depending on when they were purchased, it would not be fair to them to have bottles that were not in the same caliber (not necessarily price) but qualitative range and level of scarcity. So although this may appear to exclude some individuals from participating, it is solely meant to put the tasting on even footing with bottles of Terrantez, of the rare and scarce type. For example, a 1950 Faja dos Padres Terrantez, while a delicious and fine bottle ... would not be acceptable for an event such as this.

Therefore, in fairness, I will create a 2nd event during the same month that will take place here in Seattle, and I'll come up with a date soon ... which will open the door for about 15 guests (+ me) for a total of 16, in which those that don't own the types of bottles of Terrantez, can still participate and enjoy a broader swath of Madeira types and not just limited to ultra-rare Terrantez. For those who are not pleased with this candor, all I can say is this:
IF you really do want to participate in the Terrantez event, then please spend the next year saving and hunting down a bottle that is worthy. If you are not sure and need advice, please feel free to email me and I will let you know if a specfic bottle you are looking to purchase would be fitting and proper for the aforementioned Terrantez theme. That said, I am not here to advise you on WHERE to find such a bottle, I expect you to do that on your own. Eric has posted a few examples of what types of bottles are currently being offered and you could certainly continue to look elsewhere and at many other auctions where Terrantez would appear. But I repeat, BEFORE spending money on an expensive bottle, you might want to run it by me by email so you don't purchase an expensive bottle that won't fit this singular very special theme.

Sorry if this gets some FTLOP'ers aggravated, but I'd rather have this out in the open now and not have people angry or disappointed later. I have also discussed this with one other person here who's opinion I greatly respect and they felt the exact same way and encouraged me to be this direct.

[Andy Velebil]

You mean a 1977 Terrantez won't work?

[Eric Menchen]

You mean a 1977 Terrantez won't work?

(Maybe I can dig up a Hardy Rodenstock bottle )

[Reidar Andersen]

Well, put me in for 1802 T from Oscar

[Peter Reutter]

It might be a good idea that participants who are able to offer more than one bottle of old Terrantez give their range of bottles/vintages available to Roy. Roy could sort through all the bottles and try to come up with as many different old Terrantez wines as possible, at the same time trying to make as many people fit in as possible.

Peter

[Roy Hersh]

Thanks Peter that is a great idea!

As I have fielded 5-10 emails and PM's (please stick to emails!!!) about this event so far, there will be some very fine bottles being offered.

In considering what I am going to ante up, I;ve considered an ex-cellars 1880 D'Oliveiras Terrantez would be great (purchased at the source). That is, unless I find something even more intriguing in the next 14 months. But I have a feeling that "winning at auction" is going to be a bit more fierce in 2011. So I will probably just stick with this one.

[Marco D.]

I just checked the auction results for Zachy's Feb 10th auction (I assume this includes the buyer's premium), but looks like the 1795 Barbeito Terrantez went for: $7260!!! Yikes!

This Terrantez tasting will probably INDEED be a once in a lifetime opportunity...

[Marco D.]

Thanks Peter that is a great idea!

As I have fielded 5-10 emails and PM's (please stick to emails!!!) about this event so far, there will be some very fine bottles being offered.

In considering what I am going to ante up, I;ve considered an ex-cellars 1880 D'Oliveiras Terrantez would be great (purchased at the source). That is, unless I find something even more intriguing in the next 14 months. But I have a feeling that "winning at auction" is going to be a bit more fierce in 2011. So I will probably just stick with this one.

As previously mentioned, I can offer the 1862 Borges Terrantez HMB, the only Madeira (that I know of) that Michael Broadbent awarded 6 stars to and that The Rare Wine Company's website states: "This is considered to be not only Borges’ greatest Terrantez, but one of the greatest Madeiras ever made, and a wine that in recent years has regularly sold for between $3000 and $5000 a bottle."

Sometimes I long for the days when Madeira was less "discovered"...

[Alan Gardner]

Wow - get VERY busy for a few months - then almost have a heart attack as I thought this would take place in 2011 - PLEASE assume I'll attend.
I know some of these have already been mentioned - but as some people have 'potentially' offered more than one bottle I list mine here so that it might allow a fairer distribution. My madeira group here numbers 16 people, so if you need participants let me know - but obviously active FTLOP participants should have priority.
In my cellar are the :
1795 C.V.M.
1832 Acciaoli
1899 Leacock (AO-SM)
1899 Blandy (not sure if this is identical - doesn't show AO-SM)
1954 Leacock
1977 d'Oliveiras
NV Barbeito 'Reserve'
NV Broadbent 'Old'

My guess is that at least 1 will fit!

[Eric Ifune]

I just checked the auction results for Zachy's Feb 10th auction (I assume this includes the buyer's premium), but looks like the 1795 Barbeito Terrantez went for: $7260!!! Yikes!

This Terrantez tasting will probably INDEED be a once in a lifetime opportunity...

Yikes is right!

I someone trying to corner the market?!