Description:

D'Oliveiras Mixed Lot, Boal Reserva Madeira 1968, 1 bottle, 750ml. and Malvasia Madeira 1989, 1 bottle, 750 ml.; '68 has light dirt; capsule has very light stains; '89 has light dirt; back label has light scuffs. (2 bottles) Provenance: Estate of W. Wayne Lake, New Orleans, LA. Neal Auction would like to thank Liz Dowdy Mitchell, Advanced Sommelier, Head of Wine at Vinovest and John Mitchell Food & Beverage Director at the Windsor Court Hotel for their assistance with cataloguing this lot.

  • Notes: "Madeira, as a fortified wine style, is impressive and was created by circumstance. It originally developed during long ocean voyages. On these trips, the idea was to add a neutral grape-based spirit to make the wine last and not spoil. The temperatures on these ships got extremely hot during the day and cooled down at night. These wines were kept in casks. As a result from these huge temperature fluctuations: the sugars in the wine caramelized and the wine became oxidized. The wine inside became indestructible and developed a reputation for lasting for decades, if not centuries. This is why pre-Prohibition cellars that are unearthed have bottles of 200 year old Madeira that still drink well to this day. Of course, today, Madeira is produced in a controlled environment of heating and cooling. The wonderful thing about Madeira is that it can be kept open and still drink well months later. D’Oliviera is one of the greatest classic Madeira shippers, with origins back to 1820. They are immense believers in lengthy cask-aging to achieve the intense style they are looking for. The Reserva Boal is from 1968 and was aged for 30 years before release, through a method of “gradual drying”. It is medium-bodied and medium-sweet, with notes of dried apricot, hazelnut, and buttercream. D’Oliviera Madeiras are always complex, with powerful aromatics and lush texture. Most Madeira in the market is going to be a blend, so seeing a vintage (especially from 55 years ago) is a rare find. 1989 was an extremely favorable vintage in Europe overall. Malvasia, or Malmsey, is the sweetest style of Madeira. This 1989 Malvasia has spent 22 years in cask. Look out for aromas of dried fig, marzipan, and marmalade. You’ll notice oxidative notes, balanced by considerable freshness. As fortified wines age, the acidity and sweetness mellow out, to create even more balance. This wine could easily be held onto for another 25 years. Both of these wines go for several hundred dollars a piece on the regular market. The value here is hard to pass up." - Bryce Faucheaux Advanced Sommelier, Wine Buyer & Educator at Justine Restaurant in New Orleans.
  • Condition: If Condition is NOT stated in the description of the lot, the absence of a condition report does not indicate the lot is free of damage or condition issues. Available Condition Reports will appear as an additional image. Condition Reports and photographs may be requested on items until the Wednesday prior to the auction. Bid accordingly. All sales are final, no returns are accepted on the basis of condition.

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November 15, 2023 1:00 PM CST
New Orleans, LA, US

Neal Auction Company

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $2,999 $100
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $29,999 $1,000
$30,000 $49,999 $5,000
$50,000 $99,999 $10,000
$100,000 + $20,000