1965 Blandy's Sercial Madeira
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Tasting notes
The 1965 Sercial was bottled after almost 60 years in oak casks stored at room temperature following the system known as "canteiro." It has a deep amber color that is quite bright and a complex, nuanced and elegant nose combining notes of marmalade with spices, exotic woods, aged brandy, golden raisins and candied fruit. Sercial is usually quite dry, and this one has "only" 60 grams of sugar. The sugar is neatly compensated by the 20% alcohol, a pH of 3.3 and 9.7 grams of acidity, 1.02 of which is volatile acidity, giving it a sharp edge and lifting it up, both on the nose and the palate. It's pungent, intense and long, complex and nuanced. This should live forever in bottle. 867 bottles produced.
Critic scores
Average Score
Tamlyn Currin, jancisrobinson.com
Neal Martin
More reviews and scores
Tasted from a 37.5-cl sample bottle. John Reeder Blandy was leading the company at the time this was made. 867 bottles (650 litres) have been released – bottled in 2025. 60 years of ageing in cask. TA 9.7 g/l, VA 1.02 g/l, RS 60 g/l, pH 3.3. The smell of an ancient place with ancient, sloping wooden floors and dust and thatch and the ghosts of trees. Acidity as tight as Van Halen on electric guitar. Lime pickle and tamarind and a thousand years of sandalwood. Sage and yuzu. So dry, so fresh, so salted-lime and minty – you could surely scrub your teeth with this! It’s buzzing with energy and I am quite sure that any moment my glass might crack with the electricity and life of the wine inside it. How on earth can this possibly be 60 years old? Just tasting it makes me feel 10 years old. Truly stunning wine. (TC)
The 1965 Sercial from Blandy's represents a new release from the Madeira house. Lucid amber in hue, it sports a pungent nose with marmalade, fig jam and treacle aromas, with just a touch of honey in the background. The palate leans toward the sweeter side for a Sercial, but it is balanced and feisty. This is a Sercial that packs a punch, so I would not describe it as subtle, but I like that. For those born in this infamous year bereft of great dry wines, this is worth consideration.