Mannie Berk | This bottle was sold in September 1977 at Christie's, London, and then again at the Graham Lyons sale at Zachy’s in 2008. The bottle has a “Grabham-style” label on the front and the remains of an Avery’s label on the back. Because of the simple black and white front label, some would assume this to be a Michael Grabham Madeira, since the label style is often seen on bottles with his provenance. However, the presence of one of these labels more likely indicates that the wine passed through the MWA, where the labels were printed, perhaps in the 1950s or 1960s. Ronald Avery believed that this wine came from the great British Madeira collector, Stephen Gaselee (1882–1943). In 1985, Avery wrote to Roy Brady that it was “certainly” so. Gaselee, who worked at the British Foreign Office, was considered the greatest private Madeira collector of his day. Between 1919 and 1939, he visited Madeira each winter. Over the years, he made friends with all the best families— whether Portuguese or English—and so he was given or sold wines that no-one else had. André Simon once wrote that “some of the Madeira notables sold to Gaselee some priceless wines which they would not have let any wine-merchant buy for sacks of gold."

Roy Hersh | Medium tawny hue with garnet sparkles at the core and a greenish-gold meniscus. A riveting aromatic assemblage of caramelized onion, Cognac, maple bacon, freshly buttered brioche, followed by an elusive spicy character and oxidative whiff. Light and delicate, off-dry with old-school Verdelho typicity and charm; immediately impressive in its seamless and delicious good nature. Spicy, smoky chestnut, torched brown sugar, slightly tart Key lime, and peach preserves complemented the graceful, velvety mouthfeel and melded with the ample acidity in this beautifully balanced Madeira. An opulent, smooth, nutty, citrus persistence. | 18.5