Winemaker Notes
Seventh generation Chris Blandy, CEO of Blandy’s Madeira, is very excited about announcing the release of the 1988 Malmsey. “When our Winemaker Francisco Albuquerque presented this wine to our family in the beginning of 2013 we recognized its potential. Our 1988 vintage report indicated that this vintage is regarded as one of the best quality Madeira vintages of the decade. We held the wine back after bottling for a year to round out the prominent acidity. Nearly one year later and the wine has developed in bottle to produce a wine which we believe could become one of the great Madeira Malmseys.”
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
Elegant aromas of dried citrus, honeysuckle and baked pear feature plenty of power. Offers saline notes on the fresh finish, with a crisp minerality. Complex and alluring. Drink now through 2040. 132 cases made.
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Wine & Spirits
When first opened, this wine shows its oxidative side, the warmth of alcohol bringing pepper and leather notes to the pear nectar flavors. The beefiness of the wood tannins fades into more subtle flavors with air, layers of marzipan, woodland mushrooms, glistening with richness. Match its beefy flavor to roasted marrowbones or onion soup.
A steep, volcanic island in the Atlantic Ocean that rises to over 6,000 feet at its highest point, Madeira actually sits closer to Morocco than Portugal, the country to which it belongs.
Today the vineyards of the island cover tiny step-like terraces called poios, carved from the basalt bedrock. Aptly named Madeira, this fortified wine comes in two main styles. Blended Madeira is mostly inexpensive wine but there are a few remarkable aged styles. Single varietal Madeira (made from Sercial, Verdelho, Boal or Malmsey), is usually the highest quality and has the potential to improve in the bottle for decades.
WWH134037_1988 Item# 205283