Mannie Berk | While 1862 is best known for Terrantez, a small amount of Verdelho was produced by the MWA and appeared under at least three different brands: Lomelino, Blandy, and Avery. This is a rare wine, with only five bottles noted at auction under all three labels.

Roy Hersh | One of the rarest wines of the tasting. Medium-dark cherrywood tone and a broad yellow rim. It’s an ethereal elixir, elusive and engrossing in its aromatic profundity, with powerful whiffs of mahogany, chestnut, glove-leather, herbs, roasted espresso, and beef bouillon. Mouthfilling and hedonistic texturally, round and rich, savory and dry up front, but backfilled with sublime sweet flavors of ripe peach, candied hazelnut, and apricot marmalade. The overwhelming intensity of the acidity refreshes the palate and attacks the salivary glands in a way that too few Madeiras ever manage. Blessed with extraordinary balance and a finish that never quite did, one of the truly great Verdelhos I’ve experienced. 1862 was a lauded year for Terrantez but is apparently a venerable vintage for Verdelho, too. This earned my top rating of the entire tasting, and superlatives go only so far in describing its gorgeous essence. | 19.5