1981 Malmsey
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Tasting notes
Offering up aromas of candied dates, warm spices, cigar smoke, candied peel and aromatic wood, the 1981 Malmsey is medium to full-bodied, deep and concentrated, with an elegantly satiny attack, good depth at the sweet but attractively savory core and a long, penetrating but subtly drying finish.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Neal Martin
More reviews and scores
The 1981 Malmsey has a powerful bouquet that feels a little alcoholic and feisty at first and requires time to calm down (I gave this a couple of hours’ aeration but more would be better). The palate’s viscous texture is deftly counterbalanced by acidity. Quince, marmalade, orange pith and clove notes all coalesce nicely toward the finish, and a residual ginger note lingers in the mouth for 30 seconds afterward. Excellent.
RS 100 g/l – really low. 999 bottles, 55 magnums, 25 double magnums and three Balthazars produced. Darker orange tawny. Hint of woodiness on the nose and then superb balance of sweetness and acidity on the palate. Much less sweet than most Malmseys. The palate has won me over. Very persistent with some bourbon notes. Unusually concentrated. (JR)