1900 D'Oliveiras Verdelho

1900 D'Oliveiras Verdelho:
Deep amber, almost brown with orange rim. Rich nose, figs, citrus, difficult to describe, nothing jumps out, complex. High and playful acidity, superb texture and structure, massive intensity, very long finish, stunning. 98

1900 Setubal, 1948 Port, 1905, 27 and 66 Madeira

1948 Stump Martinez Vintage Port:

(Norwegian Monopoly bottling) Pale garnet, lots of sediments. Nuts, cherries and redcurrants. Scented. Fresh acidity, elegant and almost creamy texture, even if the alcohol is behind. Superb texture, long and elegant finish. 95

1900 JM Fonsecha Setubal:

Brown with golden rim. Caramel, butter, orange marmalade, nuts and mint. Sweet palate with fresh and managing acidity, long, but burnt caramel finish. 90

1966 D'Oliveiras Verdelho Reserva:

Deep amber, golden rim. Nuts, dried apricots, and some Christmas spices. Fresh acidity, refreshing with a somewhat lean palate for Verdelho. Long and fresh finish. lovely but young. Every time I taste this I wonder why they don't hold on to it. Maybe the fruit isn't powerful enough, but it always feels too young.  91

1927 D'Oliveiras Bastardo Reserva:

Amber with golden hue. Floral, scented and some raspberries behind dried fruits and nuts. Fresh acidity, high even, mouthwatering, exotic, butter and touch of caramel. Long. Tasted this a few times and this bottle felt less obviously fruity than some of the others, maybe even better for it. 94

1905 D'Oliveiras Verdelho Reserva:

Amber with gold/orange rim. Nuts, citrus, dried fruits, floral, rich and intense. Fresh acidity, slightly hollow, but refreshing, very long finish. Another I've tasted a few times, quite 'typical' bottle. 93+

From the Arcus cellar tasting

Madeira of the week 10: 1900 Barbeito Malvazia

1900 Barbeito Malvazia;
Dark amber, towards brown with golden rim. Intense and rich nose, leaping out of the glass, nuts, fruit cake, dried fruits, almost massive. High acidity, fresh and lively, layered but lacks the extraordinary nuances and complexity of a perfect D'Oliveiras bottle. 95

Madeira of the week 6: 1900 D'Oliveiras Malvazia

1900 D'Oliveiras Malvazia;
Deep amber, thin, gold rim. Intense, layered, massive complexity, lost for words. Rich, massive intensity, waves of flavours, dense texture, superb balance, briliant acidity, (shines like a diamond, even if I'm not sure if you can actually say briliant acidity). So playful and refined, stunning and incredible length. WOW. 99-100

Visit at D'Oliveiras, two Moscatel's

1900 D'Oliveiras Moscatel;
This variety is also almost gone from the island and not so easy to find anymore. Red-brown colour, reminds me of a very old Samos Nectar, sweet raisins, quite fresh acidity, very fruity and sweet aromas, but not as sweet as it seems on he palate, a bit heavy, quite intence, very long finish. 88

1875 D'Oliveiras Moscatel;
More than 100 years in barrel, deep amber, not as sweet as the 1900 either on palate or fruity flavours, heavy moscatel fruitiness, concentrated, lots of acidity, rushes through the mouth, long length. 87

Visit at D'Oliveiras, four Verdelho's

1966 D'Oliveiras Verdelho;
Pale amber, marsipan, almonds, floral, some citrus, very elegant, almost transparent and layered, some sweetness balance perfecly with the acidity, very fresh, a very elegant Madeira. 89

1912 D'Oliveiras Verdelho;
Deep amber with orange glow, fantastic nose, caramel, marsipan, almonds, hazelnuts, citrus, some orange peal. Great acidity, perfect balance, very complex, intence, lots of things going on at the same time, fantastic finish. 94

1900 D'Oliveiras Verdelho;
100 Years in barrel! Deep amber, towards red hue, even more intence, seems deeper somehow, oxidized caramel, if that even exists, then rose hips and citrus, needs time in the glass to open, then nuts and figs, orange marmalade and lemon, great balance, a marvel in it's complexity, great acidity, but somehow the 1912 seems more charming and elegantly put together. 92

1850 D'Oliveiras Verdelho;
More than 100 years in barrel. Deep amber, sweet of figs, nuts, not as oxidized as normal, hints of orange peal, super soft on the palate, still very livelly acidity, some coffee, citrus and floral notes, sems more nuanced with the lesser oxidative notes, very long and elegant. 90