Blandy’s Madeira – 2024 Bottlings 

BY NEAL MARTIN | SEPTEMBER 10, 2024

I have adored Madeira ever since I first tasted a 1920 Bual at Blandy’s Lodge in its capital, Funchal, over 20 years ago. Each year, Blandy’s sends miniatures of their latest bottlings. As a rule, I do not taste from 10cl bottles or test tubes. But I make an exception for Madeira because these oxidized fortified wines are more representative than dry wines that seem enfeebled in small measures.

These 2024 releases encompass the four main grape varieties found on the Atlantic island (Sercial, Verdelho, Bual and Malmsey) plus their tiny surviving parcel of fabled Terrantez, which this year comes from the 1987 vintage. Indeed, that is the star of the show at this tasting, though hot on its heels are the excellent 1988 Bual, the 2011 Malmsey and a very commendable 2011 Verdelho Colheita Single Harvest. I am long overdue for a return to Madeira and hope to author a more comprehensive report featuring other producers. In the meantime, these 2024 limited releases from Blandy’s, due to hit the market in the near future, are well worth investigating. Madeira is for all year round, not just for Christmas.

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