1969 D'Oliveiras Sercial Vintage Madeira
(Portugal) 750mL - [WS 94]
Regular price $567.00 Sale price $529.98 Save $37.02
About the Winemaker:
D'Oliveiras is an independent Madeira wine producer, located in Funchal on the island's south coast. It was founded in 1850 by Joao Pereira d'Oliveira and today is well-known for having an expansive library of old and rare Madeiras from the family's São Martinho vineyards.
The cellar boasts vintages of Verdelho dating back to the company's founding in 1850 as well as Malmsey, Bual and Sercial wines dating back to the 19th and early 20th centuries. There are also old vintages of Terrantez and Bastardo, rare grape varieties that are now almost extinct on the island.
Madeiras are aged in cask at D'Oliveira's cellars, which were built in 1619, and produces some 150,000 liters of wine annually. Wines aged up to 10 years go through the Estufagem process, where the wine is heated in steel tanks to give it the characteristic caramelized flavor. The best wines, those aged for more than 15 years, are heated in barrels in warm, sun-drenched buildings. This is known as the Canteiro process.
D'Oliveiras produces three-, five-, ten- and 15-year-old Madeiras, but the company's best Madeiras are rare, high-quality wines aged for a minimum of 20 years. Bottling is only done according to demand which allows D'Oliveira the ability to age and mature Madeiras in cask for the longest possible amount of time.
Today, the company is run by 5th generation family members Aníbal D'Oliveiras and Luís D'Oliveiras.
Ratings and Reviews:
94 Points - Wine Spectator
Creamy and lush, this glides across the palate with rich buttercream notes to the flavors of apricot tart, pear compote, dried mango and pineapple cake. The spicy finish is fresh and minerally, presenting a long tail of dried ginger. Drink now. 25 cases imported. - Kim Marcus (4/30/2016)