Blandy’s Vintage Sercial 1965
For every wine we launch within this Collection, we will lift the lid on life in Madeira during the year of that harvest, and dive deep into the life of the member of the Blandy family leading the company at that time. John Reeder Blandy, who led the company in 1965, is the second family member to be associated with the Heritage Wine Collection. Sercial 1965, one of the family’s most iconic wines, is the second chapter in this prestigious series, with only 867 bottles being released, totalling 650 litres. With an eye on future generations, Blandy’s reaffirms its commitment to preserving this unique legacy, with the past, present, and future rooted in the know-how and patience that have always characterized the company since 1811. This 2025 release marks another historic milestone for Blandy’s, with a wine that has undergone 60 years of ageing in casks.
Amber-gold with an old gold-greenish nuance, very exuberant and characteristic. Volatile, and resinous, with notes of very old brandies and citrus candied fruit. Some notes are reminiscent of yellow fruit chutney. On the palate, it is very fresh, dry, and concentrated, with invigorating acidity. Very intense, it leaves an exuberant finish with spice and resinous exotic wood notes, such as cedar and cigar box.
Reviews
This is a beguiling wine, with singed sesame, ginger root, green tea, hazelnut, jasmine, white tea, dried blood orange and baked mango notes all compressed together yet still clearly defined thanks to rapier acidity. Then the finish teases like a smoke ring, slowly dissipating as it expands. Gorgeous. - JM
Decades in oak cask rendered this concentrated yet full of finesse. Lively acidity delineates a luscious heart of spiced chutney, caramel, and nuts. Undulating and complex on finish with notes of cedar and faded roses. While the world convulsed with Cold War tension and space race ambition, someone on a lush Atlantic island put this wine to sleep, trusting that 60 years hence, it would wake in perfect form. - L.M.
The 1965 Sercial was bottled after almost 60 years in oak casks stored at room temperature following the system known as "canteiro." It has a deep amber color that is quite bright and a complex, nuanced and elegant nose combining notes of marmalade with spices, exotic woods, aged brandy, golden raisins and candied fruit. Sercial is usually quite dry, and this one has "only" 60 grams of sugar. The sugar is neatly compensated by the 20% alcohol, a pH of 3.3 and 9.7 grams of acidity, 1.02 of which is volatile acidity, giving it a sharp edge and lifting it up, both on the nose and the palate. It's pungent, intense and long, complex and nuanced. This should live forever in bottle. 867 bottles produced. - LG