1977 Malmsey
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Tasting notes
The 1977 Malmsey is showing well, offering up aromas of dried figs, rich spices, demerara sugar, espresso roast, old Armagnac and marmalade. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, satiny textured and nicely concentrated, with considerable savory nuance to complement its sweet core, concluding with a pure and moderately intense finish. This is a classy, nicely balanced Malmsey from a challenging era in Madeira's history.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Neal Martin
More reviews and scores
The 1977 Malmsey was aged for 41 years in American oak casks before bottling in 2018. It offers well-defined scents of walnut, dried quince, Japanese yuzu and glimpses of brown spice, gaining intensity with aeration, almost Bual-like in style. The spicy palate is very well balanced with a fine thread of acidity, delivering flavors of stem ginger, yellow plums and marmalade. The persistent, very focused finish is elegant and poised. In fact, you might not deduce it to be a Malmsey if you tasted it blind. Superb. 635 bottles produced. Tasted at John E. Fells portfolio tasting in London.
Greenish transparent tawny. Smudgy, rich, dried orange peel and cheesy raisins on the nose. So clean and smooth on the palate! Clean and fresh with the acidity trumping the sweetness. Gorgeous balance. Long but clean. Irresistible. (JR)