1932 Verdelho

The 1932 Verdelho is yet another ex-Adegas do Torreao bottling. It has a lucid deep amber hue. The nose is pure and refined with scents of quince, nougat, a mischievous touch of shellfish and orange blossom unfolding seductively with each sip. The palate is medium-bodied with a taut entry. This is a very composed Verdelho with a judicious hint of shaved ginger. The flavors fan out nicely with orange peel, lemongrass and honeycomb towards the intense finish that leaves the mouth tingling. It was in 1850 that Joao Pereira d’Oliveira founded his company. He initially sold wines to other shippers, and it was not until the 1970s that they began to sell Madeira wines under their own label (though they continued to sell and buy lots, to and from other shippers.) It is a small company, but there are plentiful stocks of reserve wines. Their policy is to bottle on demand, which means their vintage wines can invariably benefit from extended cask aging. Let us begin with their reserve wines, which are mainly Tinta Negra Mole and are matured under estufugem. Importer: The Rare Wine Company, Sonoma, CA; Tel: (203) 457-1431; Fax: (203) 457- 4471