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Cellar Favorite: Blandy’s Madeira - 2023 Bottlings

cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites, Portugal

Neal Martin, Jul 2023

As is customary every year, I report on the latest Madeira releases from Blandy’s, though readers should note that the 1995 Malmsey is under the Cossart Gordon label. I broach these from dry to sweeter styles.

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Cellar Favorite: Taylor’s Very Very Old Tawny Port (Coronation of King Charles III Limited Bottling)

cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites, Portugal

Neal Martin, May 2023

The Coronation of King Charles III inevitably was the perfect excuse for many English sparkling wine producers to mark the occasion with limited edition cuvées, likewise, Port Houses that have deep English roots. One that I recently tasted was from Taylor’s Fladgate, who raided some of their oldest reserves to blend a limited run of 1,500 bottles of what they have called their Very Very Old Tawny Port.

Solar ham

Vinous Table: Solar dos Presuntos, Lisbon, Portugal

Vinous Table, Portugal

Neal Martin, Apr 2023

Solar dos Presuntos fulfilled my expectations. It is a very impressive large-scale restaurant that operates like a well-oiled machine.

Ramiros scarlet shrimp

Vinous Table: Cervejaria Ramiro, Lisbon, Portugal

Vinous Table, Portugal

Neal Martin, Apr 2023

Cervejaria Ramiro is the ideal way to commence your Lisbon epicurean odyssey. As the taxi driver put it on the way back, it’s a favorite with locals because it lacks pretentiousness and offers value for the money.

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Cellar Favorite: 2019 Niepoort Batuta and Redoma

cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites, Portugal

Neal Martin, Mar 2023

I am a big fan of Dirk Niepoort’s fortified and non-fortified wines. Earlier this year, I tasted his latest releases. Two of them will offer pleasure in the near term but are also worthy of cellaring.

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Cellar Favorite: 1895 Cossart Gordon Bual

cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites, Portugal

Neal Martin, Jan 2023

Few wines are as indestructible as Madeira. Plenty of 19th-century wines continue to thrive. Following a recent exploration of Frédéric Mugnier’s Chambolle Les Amoureuses, we finished with this fine 128-year-old Madeira that affirmed its time-bending properties.

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Quinta do Noval: Recent Vintages 2011-2020

Portugal, featured

Neal Martin, Nov 2022

This brief article updates recent vintages of Quinta do Noval and Naçional at a recent tasting in London hosted by Christian Seely. It was proof, if any was still necessary, that Noval is consistently bringing its A-game.

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Cellar Favorite: Blandy’s Madeira – 2022 Bottlings

cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites, Portugal

Neal Martin, Sep 2022

I recently joined Blandy’s CEO, Chris Blandy, and head winemaker, Francisco Albuquerque, for a tasting of their 2022 Madeira bottlings.

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Cellar Favorite: 1971 Taylor’s Single Harvest Port

cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites, Portugal

Neal Martin, Feb 2022

Although I have banged on about the 1971 vintage being fecund for stupendously good wines around the world, there are a few exceptions; one is the Douro Valley since there was no General Declaration that year.

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Cellar Favorite: Quinta do Noval 2019s

cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites, Portugal

Neal Martin, Sep 2021

When I was at Château Pichon-Baron in June, Christian Seely finished my Bordeaux tasting with the three latest releases from Quinta do Noval, part of Axa-Millésime’s portfolio of properties.