1877 Terrantez H M Borges

[winesecretary]

This is preposterous.

Brown. Flashes of green.

Hints of chinese tea on the nose.

The acidity is astonishing, like a forest of rapiers.

The palate meaty, smoky, herbaceous.

Compelling. 99/100.

Consumed 23/5/23

[Alex Bridgeman]

Preposterous indeed it was. I never thought there could be too much acidity in a glass of Madeira until I tasted this.

HM Borges 1877 Terrantez: bottled roughly 45 years ago, decanted on 26 April and drunk on 23 May (so a 27 day decant). Walnut brown colour, 40% opaque. Surprisingly creamy nose, a touch of vanilla and a layer of fruit. Very subdued on the palate, powerful acidity in a medium dry style but with the acidity dominating the fruit at first. The fruit shows reluctantly on the palate but blossoms as a bitter grapefruit oil aftertaste. Long, long finish that is full of Iodine. Impressive wine, but favours power over fruit with the acidity overwhelming the wine.

I liked this significantly less than George because of the acidity he loved. 89/100.

[winesecretary]

I agree with Alex that this was not an outstanding Madeira, considered as Madeira, because the acidity was so out of whack. But as a sheer experience it was astonishing.