WTN: Taylor Fladgate 1870 Madeira Sercial

Taylor Fladgate 1870 Madeira Sercial

This was given to a friend of mine from one of the oldest wine cellars in Boston’s Beacon Hill neighborhood. My friend recently moved out of state and noticed the cork was failing so he gave it to me before he moved and since he was in Boston visiting this weekend we decided to open it on Saturday evening. The color was an incredible dark shiny brownish gold. It reminded me of some maple syrups that I’ve seen. On the nose a beautiful mix of citrus, coffee, caramel, toffee and butterscotch. On the palate more butterscotch, caramel and some nuttiness. Very silky and rich. A very fun experience. I know nothing about this Madeira but it seemed like it could last another 50 years.

What does 1870 mean in this case? Was it bottled that year? Grapes from that year? Is that the oldest grapes in the wine? Would this have been bottled in Portugal, London, Massachusetts?

The label says imported by Cave Atlantique, Cambridge MA. import permit number 1.

1870 in this case very likely means true vintage 1870--the grapes were all from that vintage.

I didn't know Taylor Fladgate made Madeira.

-Paul W.

Paul,

Thanks. See picture.

Wow, sounds like a nice gift!!

Hi Tom,
My guess is that the Madeira was made by another producer and Taylor Fladgate either bottled it and shipped it or else affixed their label to it and shipped it.
Stocks of unbottled Madeira would have stayed that way for many years, being bottled at different times. Sometimes stocks were sold to another company, one company may morphed into another or was bought by another, and some Madeiras had their bottles relabeled (or repainted) to reflect the new owner.
So for example (and I don't know in this case), I've read that the D'Oliveira family in 1984 sold a few hundred liters to the Madeira Wine Association (MWA), a group of shippers which includes Blandy's, Leacock's, Cossart Gordon and many smaller ones.
The Madeira Wine Guide listing of known existing vintage Madeiras lists a "1870 Sercial Taylor (MWA)" which is presumably this bottling.
I assume the label doesn't indicate in which year the wine was bottled.
Charles

I assume the label doesn't indicate in which year the wine was bottled.

Correct. It does not.

This wine also does not impair your ability to drive a car or operate heavy machinery (since it doesn't have that label).

I note that the label does say "shipped by Taylor Fladgate & Yeatman". So presumably they did buy the wine from someone else, as opposed to being a producer or negociant based in Madeira itself.

-Paul W.

[Jenise]

I assume the label doesn't indicate in which year the wine was bottled.

Correct. It does not.

This wine also does not impair your ability to drive a car or operate heavy machinery (since it doesn't have that label).

You can also drink it while pregnant--I know that was a big concern.

You can also drink it while pregnant--I know that was a big concern.

I've always believed that that particular sentence should be:

According to the Surgeon General drinking alcoholic beverages may cause pregnancy.

This wine also does not impair your ability to drive a car or operate heavy machinery (since it doesn't have that label).

In my experience, vintage Madiera impairs your ability to appreciate wine younger than 100 years old.

-Paul W.