1958 Cossart Gordon Boal Vintage Madeira
€ 570.78
| Producer | Cossart Gordon |
| Region | Madeira |
| Grapes | Boal (Bual) |
| Ageing | 48 years in American oak (canteiro) |
| Alcohol | 20%vol |
| Serving | 18°C, open a few hours in advance Store upright, keeps almost indefinitely once opened |
| Scores | 17,5/20 Jancis Robinson 17,5/20 Revista de Vinhos 89/100 Wine Spectator |
A 1958 Boal: almost seventy years of patience in one bottle.
Tasting note
A surprisingly bright nose of dried tropical fruit, mint, caramel, light nuts, spice and truffle. Restrained yet concentrated on the palate, with spice, dried fruit and oak.
The story
Only 1,500 bottles were made. Almost seven decades of slow maturation have given it exceptional depth and complexity.
The wine aged for 48 years in American oak casks using the traditional canteiro system. The casks moved gradually from the warm upper floors of the lodge to the middle floors and finally to the cooler ground floor. The wine was racked and tasted regularly and bottled once it reached the desired maturity.
Boal is the Portuguese name of the grape, Bual the English one (it is also called Boal Cachudo). It grows mainly in the south of the island, between 100 and 300 m altitude, and in the north near São Vicente.
Stylistically, Bual sits between the drier Sercial and Verdelho and the sweeter Malmsey.
Madeira spends years ageing in an oxidative environment and moves into a reductive one at bottling. It is therefore best to open the bottle a few hours in advance. After that, air no longer affects the wine: an open bottle keeps almost indefinitely and often tastes even better months later. Always store Madeira upright, as the acidity attacks the cork if the bottle lies down.
Food pairing
Cheeses such as blue cheese, Stilton, Gruyère, Manchego and Emmental. Dried fruit. Crème brûlée, caramel desserts with apple, apricot, pecans, cherries, almonds, hazelnuts or dried figs, and vanilla ice cream. Also a fine companion to a pipe, cigar or aromatic tobacco.
Critics & Awards
17,5/20 Jancis Robinson | Tasted: Oct 2011
17,5/20 Revista de Vinhos | Tasted: Oct 2014
89/100 Wine Spectator | Tasted: Apr 1999
93/100 CellarTracker (6 notes)
Reviews
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