1977 Blandy's Terrantez Vintage Madeira

The 1977 Terrantez, bottled in 2015, is a combination of casks 24213 and 24207. Sadly, it will be one of the last Terrantez releases from Blandy's, because all the prime vineyard land was given over to hotel construction from the 1980s onward. Chris Blandy reckons there will be three, possibly four more releases down the line. It has a very refined bouquet with dried fig, toffee apple, melted wax and orange blossom aromas that gently unfold in the glass. After ten minutes, it becomes very smooth and viscous, caressing the palate that Terrantez so often does. Equally beautiful and heartbreaking given that Terrantez is on the cusp of extinction, this is a delightful, refined Madeira suffused with sophistication. Just 1,588 bottles released. Make sure that one is yours.