For The Love Of Port

http://www.bernssteakhouse.com/Portals/ ... nuWine.pdf

My wife won a free trip for two to Orlando, so we'll be traveling down there some time in November and hope to go to this place with a friend. The madeira list is insane and a bit overwhelming. I plan on getting at least one pour in the $75 range, probably two, and will likely do two or three in the $30-40 range. What are the highlights on the menu? Which wines are underpriced or overpriced? I'd take recommendations for port and otherwise too.

Here are some that jumped out at me:

All 1.5's
8681 1905 D’ Oliveiras Reserva Verdelho 65.00
8629 1978 Broadbent Terrantez 60.00
6519 1954 Barbeito Malvasia, Fasqueira 55.00
3846 1964 Justino Henriques Filhos Bual 30.00
9260 1978 Broadbent Bual 32.00

Port Bottles: Most of the bottles are well priced for a restaurant actually!
1786 1970 Sandeman 205.00
3851 1977 Gould-Campbell 125.00

Let's know how you make out and take pictures!

Moses Botbol wrote:3851 1977 Gould-Campbell 125.00

Wine Consigners currently has some for less than that, but $125 compares well to typical retail prices, e.g. TCWC for $120 right now.

Have always wanted to go to Berns. One of these days I'll make it.
Would definitely go for the 1877 Borges Terrantez.
Other interesting things include the 1905 D'Oliveiras Verdelho, 1880 Blandy Verdelho, 1920 Favilla Bual, 1933 Justino Malmsey, and the 1907 D'Oliveiras Malvasia.

Andy,
I wish I had your problem...wait...I did! Check the thread "Help me select a flight of madeira" that I posted last year.

I have been to Bern's many times. Be aware that dessert is served in the Harry Waugh Room upstairs and you need to make reservations at the time you order your dinner.

As far as the dessert/Madeira list goes, it IS insane. BUT, it is not necessarily up to date. I had selected a few that were on the list and told they were not available. I am never disappointed, though, as there is always another wine to choose. Updating would be a monumental task...the regular wine list is chained to the table...it is so big customers were taking them out of the restaurant.

If you can check the travel channel...the episode of Steak Paradise: A Secoond Helping...Bern's is the last restaurant featured...the first scene when entering the on-premises wine celler...immediately on the right is a row of Madeiras...the distinctive D'Olivera's stenciled bottles!

I could go on, but I will send you an email instead.

Joe D'Achille
Melbourne, Florida

Eric Ifune wrote:Have always wanted to go to Berns. One of these days I'll make it.
Would definitely go for the 1877 Borges Terrantez.
Other interesting things include the 1905 D'Oliveiras Verdelho, 1880 Blandy Verdelho, 1920 Favilla Bual, 1933 Justino Malmsey, and the 1907 D'Oliveiras Malvasia.

I definitely had my eye on the Borges Terrantez.

When you say "interesting," do you mean in a way that these are wines you've had (or that you know of) to be of an especially high quality? Or is it interesting in the way that, as someone who has had hundreds of madeiras, these are rare bottles that you've never encountered that would presumably be cool to taste?

At some point in the future I hope to be in that later place but for right now my focus is definitely on trying to highest quality stuff I can.

Joe Dachille wrote:Andy,
I wish I had your problem...wait...I did! Check the thread "Help me select a flight of madeira" that I posted last year.

Joe, I remember that thread! It was when I'd first joined the forum here, and I was very jealous that someone had the opportunity to try all these wines at relatively doable prices. I had no idea it was the same place I am now going to; for some reason I recalled your thread discussing somewhere in North Carolina or something. I'm going to give that thread a read, and look forward to your email.

Eric Ifune wrote:
Have always wanted to go to Berns. One of these days I'll make it.
Would definitely go for the 1877 Borges Terrantez.
Other interesting things include the 1905 D'Oliveiras Verdelho, 1880 Blandy Verdelho, 1920 Favilla Bual, 1933 Justino Malmsey, and the 1907 D'Oliveiras Malvasia.

I definitely had my eye on the Borges Terrantez.

When you say "interesting," do you mean in a way that these are wines you've had (or that you know of) to be of an especially high quality? Or is it interesting in the way that, as someone who has had hundreds of madeiras, these are rare bottles that you've never encountered that would presumably be cool to taste?

Both actually. Had the 05 DOliveira Verdelho, 33 Justino Malmsey and the 07 D'Oliveira Malvasia and each is an excellent example. I've not had them but have heard the Blandys and the Favilla are excellent also. I've not had the Borges but know that Borges is legendary for their 19th century Terrantez.

I would go for the 1863 Lomelino Bual for the following reasons:

1) I tend to favor bual over malmsey

2) I would want to experience a pre-phylloxera vintage

AND,

3) I would want to be able to say that I drank a wine grown from grapes harvested when Abe Lincoln was president!

As for whether the price is appropriate, I have no idea. but the $70 for the 1/2 oz. pour would still leave some room for other selections.

Right now I'm dreaming about sipping Madeira in the dessert room after having the creme brulee!

Joe D'Achille
Melbourne, Florida

Joe Dachille wrote:I would go for the 1863 Lomelino Bual for the following reasons:

I'd be pretty inclined to go with this if it were not for the fact that I'll be tasting an 1863 Bual from Barbieto this evening..!

I am a lover of the 1905!

Roy Hersh wrote:I am a lover of the 1905!

How do you feel it compares to the 1912 we were discussing in the other thread?

Sophie's Choice. Both are stellar; the 1912 a bit easier to come by.

I like the 05 a hair better than the 12. Just a bit more concentration, but both are superlative.