Dated bottles of Madeira from the late 1920s through early 1930s are scarce. The effects of the Great Depression was felt on an international scale and locally it wreaked havoc on Madeira. The Portuguese Minister of Finance sought to mitigate the effects on Portugal by centralizing the importation and milling of grain in January 1931. The price of bread and other common goods quickly rose as a result. A few months later a revolt on the island of Madeira took place with control of the island temporarily seized from the government. The spread of the European financial crisis coupled with the political instability on Madeira impacted the banks on Madeira the same year of the revolt. By the end of the year banks suspended all payments and in the course of restructuring the banking system in 1932, many private banks failed. This is the period when the influence of the partidista rose. These merchants purchased wine at vintage then sold it off to shippers as they needed it. It is likely that during these financially difficult times much Madeira was sold off for ready money rather than kept around as single vintage lots tying up capital. This wine is from old family stocks at D’Oliveira. See notes for the 1928 D’Oliveira, Sercial Madeira. Bottled 2016. With ripe aromas this wine offers attractive aromas of age which I look for in older bottles. There is a weighty, round, dense start with good body and juicy acidity. The flavors are more mature with moderately sweet bakings spices, strong acidity, and some brown sugar in the finish. The strength of the acidity builts into the finish leaving a piercing citric edge. ****.
