1976 Blandy's Verdelho Vintage Madeira
Market price
Buying options
Tasting notes
Aged for 44 year in wood, Blandy's 1976 Verdelho delivers complex aromas of dried peel, clear honey, pine resin, vanilla pod and figs. Medium to full-bodied, elegantly textural and incisive, it's nicely concentrated, with racy acids, fine depth at the core and a long, bittersweet and saline finish. Fleshing out with extended aeration, this is a fine new release.
Critic scores
Neal Martin
William Kelley, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
The maiden release of the 1976 Verdelho (2020 Bottling) from Blandy’s is only slightly deeper than the 2008 that I tasted alongside it. Yet as you would expect, the aromatics are very different: molasses, pain d'épices, orange blossom and iodine all vie for attention. As with the 2008, I appreciate the delineation. The palate displays considerable weight and presence, to the point where you might mistake it for a light Bual (the residual sugar here is 86g/L). Notes of Szechuan pepper and black pepper elevate a streamlined, focused finish that lingers long on the aftertaste. This is quite a cerebral Verdelho. Chill this slightly before serving. I can imagine it making a superb aperitif. 1,039 bottles produced.