How old is old?

[Christer Byklum]

1795 Barbeito Terrantez Madeira;
Pale amber, deep golden rim. Apples, cinnamon, raisins, minerals, floral, roses, rose hips, coffee and caramel. Extremely complex. Perfect acidity/ sweetness balance, exceptional wine, kind of tender for a Madeira, the balance is out of this world, some teak, vanilla, oil, aftertaste for several minutes. Perfection. 99

[David Glasser]

That's old! But in a good way...

We had a bottle of 1900 Barbeito Malvazia as part of our New Year's Eve 2000 celebration. Very complex and extremely well balanced, but just a baby compared to your bottle!

Some of my patients look at me funny when I refer to them as "young." I tell them old is a relative thing, and that anyone within 5 years of my age is still young!

[Christer Byklum]

Madeira have exceptional ageing capabilities.

[Christer Byklum]

I remember visiting Barbeito a few years back, and I was lucky enough to taste some old Madeira they did not think were up to standards, and one, I think it was 1830 and Malvazia, that Ricardo Freitas felt was the best wine they ever made, and that was absolutely fantastic.

[Francois Audouze]

Are they Colheita or Solera ?
if it is Solera, the number of molecules of 1795 is very small.

[Christer Byklum]

Colheita

[Christer Byklum]

1808 Leacock Madeira Solera;
Cork smouldering, dull indian yellow. Some Caramel, citrus, creme brule, pan cakes, cointreau, orange marmalade, minerals, heavy and intense, with OK acidity, short finish. 81

This is the only very old Solera I've tasted, and it was nothing compared to the old Colheita's.