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Wine Blogging Wednesday #51: "Baked Goods"3 min read

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in best of, wine blogging wednesday, wine review


Welcome to Wine Blogging Wednesday #51(WineDude)!
Dude here is hosting the 51st edition of the venerable WBW, and today’s theme is “Baked Goods“ – reviews of wines that are deliberately heated (aka “Madeirized”), and we’re also allowing reviews of sweet Fortified wines to be included. For the scoop on how Wine Blogging Wednesday works, check out the WBW site. More details on the background of the theme can be found here.

Now… let’s get this funk started!

I love Madeira. Love is a strong word. And I love Madeira.

It’s often sweet, incredibly tasty, high in refreshing acidity, and because it’s already been exposed to oxygen and heat (which would utterly destroy normal wines), it’s virtually indestructible.

A Madeira wine from 1935 will pretty much taste the same today as it did in 1935, even if opened and enjoyed tablespoon by luscious tablespoon from then until now. Not only is it tasty, indestructible, and food-friendly, it also boasts an abv of 19% or more. It’s a bad-ass wine!…

Normally, I’d expound on the storied history of Madeira, and give you background on the traditional styles of Madeira, food pairings, etc.

But…

Rather than take you through the history of Madeira wine – which I figured might be covered by one or more of the other fine WBW participants anyway (and if not can easily be found in detailed play-by-play on the web) – I thought I’d instead show you, by way of comparison, just how bad-ass Madeira actually is.

Let’s compare kick-ass, indestructible Madeira to the so-called “Invincible” IRON MAN:

The
“Invincible” IRON MAN
Totally Kick-Ass

Indestructible Madeira
Abilities Superhuman strength, Repulsor-ray technology, Genius-level intellect

Intense aroma, Mouth-watering acidity, Ass-kicking 19%+ abv
Edge: Madeira
Protection Bullet-proof, temperature-resistant armor – TIE Impervious to hot ovens, attic temperatures, and long, perilous sea voyages

– TIE
Creator Stan Lee

 The Dutch Armada


Edge: Madeira
Nemesis The Mandarin, Alcoholism, Soft spot for Pepper Pots, Very large magnets

Edge: IRON MAN

 Cork Taint
Tastes Like… Metal alloy Nuts, caramel, dried figs. –
Edge: Madeira
Result of Oxidation Rust

 Characteristics of nuts and honey

Edge: Madeira

 

No contest: Madeira totally trumps IRON MAN, 5-2.

Anyway, traditional Madeira comes in four flavors of grapes, each chosen to highlight a particular style of the wine, examples of which I tasted in comparison (witness below).


Notice how the color of each wine gets darker? This is a key to the style, which range from dry and nutty to lusciously sweet and caramely (is that a word…?):

Blandy’s Dry Sercial (Aged 5 Years in oak): Made from the Sercial grape, grown in the cooler high-altitude regions of the Madeira island. Sherry-like, nutty (almonds, baby!) with searing acidity. Pass the hors d’oeuvres!

Blandy’s 5 Year Vedelho: Made from Verdelho (also grown in the cooler Northern part of the island) – Sherry-like, but this time its darker and more ‘Oloroso-ish’; the oak is more pronounced, and there’s touch of sweetness balancing the acidity.

Cossart Gordon Medium Rich Bual (15 years): From the Bual grape (probably my favorite) from the warmer southern portion of Madeira, it ripens to higher levels so it can be made into a sweeter style. And sweet it is – as in sweet fig, vanilla, and hazelnut, with a long nutty finish.

Blandy’s Malmsey 10 Year: Malmsey is the malvasia grape, grown in the warmest and lowest-altitude regions of Madeira. These wines can become ultra-indestructible and typically have a near-perfect balance between acidity and sweetness. In this case, the wine is bursting with burnt caramel, rum, honey, and smoke, with a smooth, luscious mouthfeel.

Now do you see why I use the word “love” when I’m talking Madeira?

Cheers!
(images: 1winedude.com, malone.blogs.com, historyguy.com, wikimedia.org, sahistory.org.za, d210.tv, wilsoncrfeekwinery.com, fruitsstar.com, purplemissues.blogspot.com)


27 thoughts on “Wine Blogging Wednesday #51: "Baked Goods"3 min read”

  4. What an awesome post! I think you captured both the essence of this fantastic dessert wine, as well as your love for it! I really enjoyed reading the post, as you made it a LOT of fun, and you know I’m all about a good time with wine!

    A lot of time the question I get is “How long can this last once opened.” I appreciate your covering that in your post. I neglected to mention it in mine. Now, if only I could get my mitts on a bottle from 1935!

    My Madeira post is at http://agoodtimewithwine.com/2008/11/12/mmwine-and-madeira-for-wbw51/ and I am SO excited as it’s my first post for WBW! And as you’ll see, it was my first experience with Madeira, but it won’t be my last.

    -Matt

  7. Love the Iron Man vs Madeira Wineoff! Great post. Thanks for hosting. My first post is up over at catavino.net
    Cheers. Justin

  8. OMG, Joe! Twitter is right, you killed it with this WBW post. Love the Iron Man comparison, clearly no match for Madeira!

    I only wish I liked the stuff. Ah well, different strokes.

  10. Dude,

    Once you’re done basking in the glory of this great WBW, I hope you’ll cross post at The 89 Project (you are a member, aren’t you?). You have 2 WS 89-rated wines here:

    ———————–
    Wine Spectator

    December 23, 2005

    BLANDY’S Sercial Madeira 5 Year Old NV (89 points, $21)

    Dried apricot, golden raisin and smoky flavors fill this fresh and lively Madiera. Balanced, and edged with lush spicy notes, which linger on the creamy finish. Try on ice as an aperitif. Drink now through 2010.

    –Kim Marcus
    —————————

    Blandy’s Malmsey 10 Year

    KM Wine Spectator 12/31/05 89/100

  12. That was great.
    I was amused.
    I was informed.
    I feel an overall growth result in my personal character.
    And I like saying ‘Malmsey’

  14. thanks, kori! just tried posting a comment on your blog but it’s not taking for some reason? anyway, love the post on PX – bravo!

  16. Jason – you are THE MAN.

    There is pretty much zer chance of you seeing these Madeiras again, unless you come to my house before Sunday ;-)

    But I did give you some Opus recently… so are we not even…

  24. Truly awesome, Dude. Love the humor AND the truth in the Iron Man vs. Madeira chart. If the gloosy mags had any sense, they’d be banging on your door to write for them.

  25. Wow – high praise, tish, and thanks for that! Not sure that Wine Enthusiast or Wine & Spirits would fully appreciate the IRON MAN comparison, though… ;-)

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