1976 Verdelho Madeira, Blandys

Aged for 44 year in wood, Blandy's 1976 Verdelho delivers complex aromas of dried peel, clear honey, pine resin, vanilla pod and figs. Medium to full-bodied, elegantly textural and incisive, it's nicely concentrated, with racy acids, fine depth at the core and a long, bittersweet and saline finish. Fleshing out with extended aeration, this is a fine new release. ~ (92) William Kelley, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate 10-15-2020

The maiden release of the 1976 Verdelho (2020 Bottling) from Blandy’s is only slightly deeper than the 2008 that I tasted alongside it. Yet as you would expect, the aromatics are very different: molasses, pain d'épices, orange blossom and iodine all vie for attention. As with the 2008, I appreciate the delineation. The palate displays considerable weight and presence, to the point where you might mistake it for a light Bual (the residual sugar here is 86g/L). Notes of Szechuan pepper and black pepper elevate a streamlined, focused finish that lingers long on the aftertaste. This is quite a cerebral Verdelho. Chill this slightly before serving. I can imagine it making a superb aperitif. 1,039 bottles produced. ~ (93) Neal Martin, Vinous 9-1-2020

Mid orange-tawny. Rich, cut peel, hint of prunes and salted Brazil nuts. High toned, lots of acidity. Francisco finds old rum – yes! But lots of freshness despite the considerable residual sugar. At the limit of volatile acidity but it's stable. The finish is dry, and very, very slightly astringent. A pungent delight. ~ (18) Jancis Robinson, JancisRobinson.com 9-3-2020