GrapeLines

A review of the Blandy’s 10-year-old Malmsey and the Blandy’s 5-year-old Alvada Madeiras.

The wines of Madeira are among the world’s longest lasting, with examples more than 100 years old still exhibiting youthful freshness and balance. Located 400 miles off the coast of Morocco, the island began winemaking in the 1400s when Portugal’s Prince Henry had the sweet Greek Malvasia grapes planted upon the hillsides along with Sicilian sugar cane.

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The pleasures of older wines.

I prefer “Chinatown” to the “The DaVinci Code,” “On The Waterfront” over “Gladiator” and will drop everything to watch “Casablanca.” Angelina Jolie certainly has her attributes but Ingrid Bergman has a vulnerable sadness. Older movies have a captivating elegance and charm that is often lacking in the more recent Hollywood blockbusters. A similar satisfaction can be found in various older wines.

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