Madeira Wine Notes April 2013

Tasting of Old Madeira 1940 - 1780

I have written before that I would travel the earth to attend one of Patrick Grubb’s tastings. This was billed as his last so I made an extra special effort to attend, moving commitments at the Decanter World Wine Awards in the process. I am very grateful to Stephen Spurrier and Christelle Guibert for making this possible for me as this is a tasting never to be missed. As always Patrick uncorked history: a dozen bottles of madeira dating from 1940 – 1780.

A recent bottling from Blandy

 Blandy’s Bual 1969 *****

Blandy’s new Managing Director, Chris Blandy, sent me a sample of this wine which he is very excited about, and with good reason. The year 1969 was singled out in early cask tastings by the late Noel Cossart, formerly partner in Cossart Gordon, then the Madeira Wine Association and author of Madeira, the Island Vineyard, as one of the best vintages for Bual.