blandys
 
Blandy’s Vintage Malmsey 1977
1977
1981
1991

The wine was aged for 41 years in old American oak casks at Quinta das Maravilhas in Funchal.
“We bought the stock of wine after being presented with samples that far exceeded our expectations in terms of quality, freshness and complexity. Vintage Malmseys, when aged in the right location, have the ability to develop that natural richness into deep layers of aromas and flavours. The wine, after the years that it spent at the Zino’s family Quinta, benefited from the specific micro climate at that altitude. After we bought the wine, we held it at our winery in Caniçal before finally being bottled in May 2018.”

This as the only wine produced and aged at Quinta das Maravilhas as subsequent harvests were sold as grapes to the Madeira Wine Association until the vineyard ceased to be productive.

Dark mohogany color with golden refletions. A characteristic aroma of madeira wine, having prenaunced notes of exotic woods, dried and crystallized fruits and spices. On the mouth its full boddied, smooth, sweet releasing notes of dark chocolate, spices and tabaco, and has a long aftertaste with notes of fruitcake, molasses and spices.

Reviews

Wine & Spirits
9/30/2018
Points:
98

The resonance of its flavors completely fills your head with scents of orange, plum, almond and persimmon, while the weave of those flavors comes together to warm you from the inside out, wrapping your senses in something that feels like a silk blanket, weightless and comforting.

Wine Enthusiast
11/30/2018
Points:
95

Malmsey is the old English name for Malvasia grapes, which produce a supersweet style of Madeira. Toffee, caramel and dried fruits are shot through with acidity. This is a beautiful wine, aged in wood since the harvest, and ready to drink.

Wine Spectator
12/31/2018
Points:
94

This has lovely toffee, sesame, ginger and bergamot notes laced with flashes of sandalwood and hazelnut. Has cut and freshness but there's an alluring mellow edge through the finish as the flavors meld together.

Wine Advocate
11/26/2019
Points:
92

The 1977 Malmsey is showing well, offering up aromas of dried figs, rich spices, demerara sugar, espresso roast, old Armagnac and marmalade. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, satiny textured and nicely concentrated, with considerable savory nuance to complement its sweet core, concluding with a pure and moderately intense finish. This is a classy, nicely balanced Malmsey from a challenging era in Madeira's history.