946. Cossart Gordon, Verdelho Madeira, 1975

€166; 20%

A very pleasant way to conclude my 40^th with Daivd, Janet and Ruth, and then continue to give enough pleasure in the subsequent 2 months to merit getting a 2^nd bottle when back in Madeira. Deep amber, with a broad caramel-olive rim. Distinctly smoky, volcanic / sulfidic, baked stone nose, with walnut skin. Saline touch. Caramel. Hint of vanilla and gentle oak toast. Some milk chocolate. Quite complex. Rounded. Distinct sweetness, but not over-powering. Smoky walnut skin over cooked lemon citrus. Salty, minerally mid-palate. Good with salted, mixed nuts.