For The Love Of Port

Posted: **Tue Jan 06, 2026 5:04 pm**

Mark L wrote: ↑Tue Jan 06, 2026 12:23 pm Hey Glenn,
I'm sorry that you had that let-down experience with your 1875!
I don't recall that this was bottled that long ago, but still -- I would recommend waiting several days and re-tasting. It sounds like you opened and then tasted, and served same-day?

Naturally, I trust your expertise and your experience in madeira (even though you often prefer port), so if you think it's corked, I believe you. My only thought might be to give it a few days of serious air, and then see how it is before opening a second bottle (or returning the first).

Good luck!!!! Naturally, I hope it works out. (One of the reasons I recommend this is also to hope that if it does work out OK by waiting, that it will give you the confidence in your remaining bottles!)

I will say that periodically there are bottles that I've opened and fully decanted as recently as a couple weeks ago then closed with a t-stop, still need more time in glass before they "return" to their normal selves upon serving. (not all, but a couple here and there -- enough that I tend not to worry anymore when a madeira is tasting like it's out-of-whack out of the bottle, ...but it does remind me that serving from an open bottle that I haven't tasted from in a while might not show very well if I decide to share it spontaneously (on the spot) with a visiting guest. At best, I will pour it earlier in the evening, and come back to serve/share it later.)

Hi Mark, thanks for the insights!

Yes, this was opened same day. It had a couple of hours just unstoppered in the bottle, so not a true decant.

The 1875 has been bottled multiple times, apparently. I have 2 bottles that were bottled some time in the 1970s, and then these 4 new ones that were bottled in 2016. I also saw some bottles mentioned as having been bottled near 2016... I don't recall exactly when off the top of my head, but it was something like 2014 or 2010. Relatively recently, as opposed to the ones from the 1970s.

My understanding of the general rule is about a day of decant for every decade in bottle, which means I probably should have opened this bottle the day before. I didn't decide to add it to the tasting until the day of, unfortunately.

I do plan to taste it again soon-ish, and will probably pour my glass in the morning to taste that evening. That will give it some much needed air, and hopefully that will help.

That said, according to others at the tasting this was clearly TCA and not just bottle stink like madeira can sometimes develop. And the palate was just off to me, again not in a way that I would associate with time in bottle. But maybe air will help?

I've reached out to Farr Vintners to ask about their corked wine policy. I'll let everyone know what they say.

Posted: **Wed Jan 07, 2026 10:52 am**

I heard back from Farr Vintners this morning. They do not accept returns on corked bottles. So I'm stuck with this one.

Posted: **Thu Jan 08, 2026 4:03 pm**

I think I've encountered only a couple corked Madeira. Seems pretty rare. Not sure why.

Posted: **Thu Jan 08, 2026 5:53 pm**

Maybe has to do with either

- better cork quality from domestic availability/trees
- high acidity declines the effects or risks of TCA
- less physical contact with cork dur to vertical storage

?

Posted: **Thu Jan 08, 2026 7:19 pm**

Eric Ifune wrote:I think I've encountered only a couple corked Madeira. Seems pretty rare. Not sure why.

While I don’t drink near as many Madeira’s as others here, I’ve only encountered one. And it was badly corked. It does happen.

Posted: **Fri Jan 09, 2026 3:06 pm**

Andreas Platt wrote: ↑Thu Jan 08, 2026 5:53 pm Maybe has to do with either

- better cork quality from domestic availability/trees
- high acidity declines the effects or risks of TCA
- less physical contact with cork dur to vertical storage

?

I also wondered if the vertical storage might be a statistically (very) significant reason why TCA in madeira less frequent than other wines.

Again, sorry to hear it, Glenn. If it hasn't gotten any better after lots and lots of air, then I mourn the loss of this particular bottle. Meanwhile, I'm hopeful and confident the other two bottles will taste as you remember they should!

Good luck, and let us know!
Cheers,
Mark

Posted: **Sun Mar 08, 2026 11:55 am**

I opened these bottles on March 6th, in preparation for a Verdelho/Sercial tasting I have planned for March 17th.
1895 Araujo de Barros Verdelho
1905 D’Oliveiras Verdelho
1912 D’Oliveiras Verdelho
1954 Justino’s Verdelho

1891 Araujo de Barros Sercial
1905 Franca Netto Sercial
1910 Blandy’s Sercial
1954 Cossart Sercial

: Verdelho opened for 3/17/26; IMG_3393.jpeg (2.84 MiB) Viewed 91619 times

: Sercial opened for 3/17/26; IMG_3392.jpeg (2.67 MiB) Viewed 91619 times

Posted: **Thu Mar 12, 2026 9:13 am**

Your house must smell pretty amazing, Jim!!

Jim S. wrote: ↑Sun Mar 08, 2026 11:55 am I opened these bottles on March 6th, in preparation for a Verdelho/Sercial tasting I have planned for March 17th.
1895 Araujo de Barros Verdelho
1905 D’Oliveiras Verdelho
1912 D’Oliveiras Verdelho
1954 Justino’s Verdelho

1891 Araujo de Barros Sercial
1905 Franca Netto Sercial
1910 Blandy’s Sercial
1954 Cossart Sercial
IMG_3393.jpegIMG_3392.jpeg

Posted: **Fri Mar 13, 2026 8:07 pm**

Best diffuser ever!

Posted: **Thu Apr 09, 2026 12:43 pm**

Hey Jim,

Have you had a chance to write down / share any of your thoughts from your tasting event? or did I miss them? Hope it was great!

Cheers,
Mark

Jim S. wrote: ↑Fri Mar 13, 2026 8:07 pm Best diffuser ever!

Posted: **Thu Apr 16, 2026 4:47 pm**

Hi Jim,

I am also curious if you have notes/comparative rankings from your event.

-Michael

Posted: **Thu Apr 23, 2026 3:37 pm**

1995 Borges Boal. This is really, really good!

Posted: **Mon Apr 27, 2026 10:46 am**

I like having a good reason to open a special bottle….

A couple of weeks ago I was invited a madeira lunch and brought along a 1801 Terrantez Torre Bella.

The 1801T was excellent, punchy yet balanced with a great mouth feel, one of the best Terrantezes I've ever tasted. However, the other T at the meal took the crown: the 1862 Terrantez bottled by CJZ in 1977. Scarcer than hens teeth. I felt very lucky to be able to taste this incredible Terrantez, it’s in a league of its own.

On the sweeter side we had the chance to taste the legendary 1839 Malvasia from Blandy's which was very good, although I preferred the 1851 Drummond Faja which had amazing acidity and freshness; seriously impressive. I was excited to taste the 1801T and 1851M after reading Roy's review in the December newsletter.

Posting the photo as I'm certain these 8 bottles have never appeared together and will never again

Posted: **Mon Apr 27, 2026 11:43 am**

Is that a 1934 Faja M that I see... if so, how was it? I think I have a bottle of that stashed away somewhere...

Posted: **Mon Apr 27, 2026 2:12 pm**

1) +1 for the 1801T Torre Bella, in one league with 1748T Vasconcellos, 1730T HMB and one of the great singing bottles of 1862
2) the 1851M Faja was clearly surpassed by the 1822M Faja when I tasted it a few years ago, but outstanding nevertheless
3) 1862T "JWEB/CJZ"...wonder if this is originating from the same juice that has been used by shippers like MWC or Borges; do you have any indications based on tasting profile etc?
4) 1934 Faja: I have 5 bottles of this nice wine left...funny fact, mine are stencilled without the word "MADEIRA"; unfortunately the corks used from ABS were not "built for eternity"...that being the reason for me to have several of my ABS bottles been recorked recently
5) the 1839M Faja dos Padres would be rather interesting how this showed

Posted: **Tue Apr 28, 2026 8:01 am**

Marco D. wrote: ↑Mon Apr 27, 2026 11:43 am Is that a 1934 Faja M that I see... if so, how was it? I think I have a bottle of that stashed away somewhere...

The 1934 Faja M was very popular amongst the group. Considering the other Malvasias it was being compared with that day it performed very well. "Charming on the palate" was one description.

Posted: **Tue Apr 28, 2026 8:37 am**

Andreas Platt wrote: ↑Mon Apr 27, 2026 2:12 pm 3) 1862T "JWEB/CJZ"...wonder if this is originating from the same juice that has been used by shippers like MWC or Borges; do you have any indications based on tasting profile etc?
4) 1934 Faja: I have 5 bottles of this nice wine left...funny fact, mine are stencilled without the word "MADEIRA"; unfortunately the corks used from ABS were not "built for eternity"...that being the reason for me to have several of my ABS bottles been recorked recently
5) the 1839M Faja dos Padres would be rather interesting how this showed

The 1862 was bottled by the then winemaker of the MWC in 1977 for the Blandy Family. There was also a 1960's bottling.
The origin of this wine I believe is from three demijohns of the HMB T 1862 bought by Graham Blandy from Borges in 1948.
It may well therefore be the freshest version of the great HMB T 1862.

The 1934 ABS Faja was less concentrated than the C19 wines on show, but has a wonderful harmonious balance and was delicious. This bottle was just a touch beefy on the nose so not quite perfect on this occasion but vg nevertheless. When it is "on", this is one of the greatest C20 Madeiras, and finer than any C19 Barros wines I know of or their 1914 M. Bottles have varied, as it was bottled I understand in fairly small batches, sometimes after a re-rack of the cask.

This bottle of 1839 Blandys had great provenance, and a lot of depth but for whatever reason was not quite singing with that complete creme brulee nose the best bottles have. Some wondered whether it was too fresh, but it has had some time to open up since it was opened in February. So good and worthy, but not great. The best bottles are unequalled in my experience.

Of the other wines, the WS Bual from HeH was the best showing of that wine anyone could remember, and surprised me.
The Cunha was the 1810 Ruma da India was a fascinating time capsule

Posted: **Tue Apr 28, 2026 2:45 pm**

Hi Paul!
Great to read your specific infos -highly appreciated.
The 1934M Faja is a nice wine, still I think the 1880M ABS better.

When you mention the 1914...maybe you know, I confess, I don't...where is the difference between the following

1914 Artur de Barros e Sousa (ABSL) Madeira Malvasia Solera

1914 Artur de Barros e Sousa (ABSL) Madeira Malvasia Velhissima

1914 Fajã dos Padres Madeira Malvasia

Thx

For The Love Of Port

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