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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 94.9 pts. and median of 95 pts. in 287 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by talbot61 on 5/1/2024 & rated 91 points: We drank this soon after decanting, so it was probably not yet showing its full richness. What we found was a notably spicy port, still quite hot, without much caramel, but already complex and lively, with well-balanced sweetness. (483 views) | | | Tasted by cacastine on 4/22/2024 & rated 94 points: Just an excellent and great experience of an older vintage Port. Caramel, toffee, violets, nail polish, raisin and concentrated black fruits still ripe and integrated with perfect acidity. This is rich, well balanced although a little hot but drinking in a really exciting way right now. (554 views) | | | Tasted by scottesterly on 3/16/2024 flawed bottle: Sad, sad, sad story. Recently purchased from a reputable online dealer. Upon removing the wrapper there was a tiny leak that had clearly been there for a long time. My fears were confirmed as I poured the wine into the decanter. It looked like an aged tawny, nothing all like a vintage port. Didn’t get much on the nose and the taste was clearly compromised, but you could sense there was something magic that has 99.9% removed. I have messaged the online entity to alert them of the issue (they guarantee provenance). (1017 views) | | | Tasted by europat55 on 12/28/2023 & rated 92 points: 1970-2000 Fonseca Vintage Ports Vertical (Palo Alto, California): Nose: 91-92; Palate: 92
My #4; Group's #5; Tasted blind (1502 views) | | | Tasted by JM_MadTown on 12/22/2023 & rated 93 points: This port has a delicate amber color. It has butterscotch, some caramel, and spices on the palate with dark red fruit. It’s very nice to sip and enjoy. (1362 views) | | | Tasted by Eric on 12/2/2023: ESTG Year-End Tasting (Newcastle, WA): Mmm, delicate and precise. People argued whether this had the stuffing, but I love when Port get lighter and more precise and focused with age. (2265 views) | | | Tasted by rwpalmer on 10/27/2023 & rated 94 points: It might seem odd to give a wine of this antiquity a "plus" for potential, but alongside the 63 it showed great similarity of style with just not quite the refinement (yet) and more power. Better than the 70 and all perfect bottles. (1876 views) | | | Tasted by duchamp on 8/13/2023 & rated 93 points: Medium garnet, well-stated nose of butterscotch, caramel, woody/earthy notes, followed by hints of cherry, and spice, sweet on the palate with dark, burnt caramel, fully resolved tannins, medium acidity and a little heat, finishes with lingering gingerbread notes, caramel, wood, allspice, orange rind, and more
Notes: Purchased from a reputable retailer about 2/3 into it's life, seemed to be a good bottle with no signs of leakage or oxidation (2284 views) | | | Tasted by crewald on 8/2/2023: Horizontal of 1977 Fonseca, Taylor, Smith Wodehouse, and Sandeman at 3rd weekend of encampment. My #1, edging out the Taylor.
This bottle purchased from Zachy's in 1993. Gorgeous, with an energy and acid not present in the Taylor. (1884 views) | | | Tasted by Slaz on 6/8/2023 & rated 95 points: Well developed, with a long and smooth finish and aftertaste. (1988 views) | | | Tasted by Shrewsram on 3/23/2023 & rated 94 points: Mid ruby, touch of brown/orange and a watery pink rim
Whiff of alcohol. Cherry brandy aromas initially, blue fruits and something savoury, understated sweetness… cotton!
Rich attack, full and sweet and very spicy. Plenty tangy, some chew, lots of energy. Stimulating.
Coming back:
Lots of candied red fruits, spice, and some earth. Blue touches and a cherry base, lovely floral quality and notes of sweet tea. The palate has a creamy core and some fat then that stimulating and very spice frame. Really like the energy in this. (2508 views) | | | Tasted by dream on 3/7/2023 & rated 93 points: A well-aged Port show excellent finesse with an ethereal texture and delicious flavors of dark red fruits, mocha and earthen spice. Layered and complex on the finish with lovely fading floral notes. Just a bit hot on the finish keeping it from a higher score for me. (2379 views) | | | Tasted by liber on 12/27/2022 & rated 95 points: 6th of 12, pnp, soaked cork but perfect level, paler and more spirity than last bottle in December 17, otherwise excellent and nuanced as before, probably at a peak which should last many years yet. VF (18.5). (2463 views) | | | Tasted by mryev on 12/24/2022 & rated 96 points: Decanted for about 2 hours before the first taste and consumed it over 3 days or so. It was what I would call- a well aged vintage port! It definitely showed age but all that was present in the youth was still evident. Almost sparkling, a deeper medium ruby color with a very thin rim, or almost no rim at all. I would not have guessed that this port is almost 50 years old judging by just its appearance. Layered aromas and flavors speak of complexity and intrigue. Red fruit, flowers, herbs... what was more pronounced for me - the overripe cherry, lavender, and a hint of bay leaf. Excellent acidity held it all well together and added to a very long, almost a whole minute finish. It felt like a (lingonberry) berry burst in my mouth - with an explosion of sourish flavor and a pleasant long tapered end. Fantastic VP! (2260 views) | | | Tasted by skurtz on 12/4/2022 flawed bottle: Purchased at auction, seepage. A damaged bottle for sure. This port really needed the double decanting and resting overnight in the fridge. Initially light brown, this became more translucent and pinkish caramel overnight. Definitely more like a light port. Not spoiled, but definitely not the complexity from other CT reviews. Not a complete waste, but definitely not worth the price I paid, either. (2571 views) | | | Tasted by Verb on 11/27/2022 & rated 96 points: light red color - outstanding nose of black cherries, red flowers (peonies), and tertiary aromas (too many to describe verbally!)- full bodied with multiple layers of complex fruits, perfectly balanced in the mouth with enough fruit and structure to balance the sweetness - long 30+ sec finish - tasted alongside the 77 Taylors: the Taylor was more intense and richer in the mouth, but the Fonseca had the superior nose and overall elegance - I gave both the same rating but for different reasons - and both continued to drink well for an additional 2 weeks (2053 views) | | | Tasted by BernieMSY on 11/24/2022 & rated 98 points: Stunningly good. Complex and multilayered. Rich and delicious, with abundant nutty flavors undergirded by beautifully balanced sweet grape candy tones. Spectacular! There isn’t much else to say. It’s a 45 year old vintage port that is living up to its promise. Enjoy. (1798 views) | | | Tasted by skurtz on 11/24/2022 & rated 91 points: Purchased three bottles at auction, and it was noted there were signs of seepage - bought them anyway, what the heck. The first bottle was pale brown, the second bottle was cloudy brown, maybe I should have saved them to see if they would revive. Bottle three was much better, actually tastes like port! It had the best cork of them all. This is pale amber in the glass, very light, lots of vanilla and alcohol on the nose. Opened for Thanksgiving. This was *so* much better on day 2. Translucent pink in the glass. More like a smooth sophisticated ruby port, light, with no rough edges. Pepper cinnamon, sweet raisins. Lovely. 91/92 (1520 views) | | | Tasted by remyworldpeace on 8/30/2022 & rated 92 points: Still fairly young. Vibrant, ripe red fruits and some tertiary nutty noted of walnut. Long and complex finish displaying more tertiary notes and walnut.
I enjoyed this but willing to accept that my relatively low score versus others was due to 1) only having a 25ml tasting glass 2) not giving it enough time to breathe and 3) this following a 1982 Claret which was sensational so being somewhat overshadowed. Keen to try another glass now. (2695 views) | | | Tasted by Salvy1 on 8/8/2022 & rated 100 points: Strongly recommend decanting for at least 2 full days before drinking a single sip. On day one it’s overly alcoholic and the sweetness/fruit/flavors just don’t come through - by evening on day three it’s a completely different experience and wonderful. (2479 views) | | | Tasted by englishman's claret on 7/16/2022 & rated 93 points: The '77 Fonseca shows nutty, treacle aromas, old leather, and red fig notes. Drinking well now, if without the depth and drama of some Fonseca. (3491 views) | | | Tasted by jlgnml on 5/20/2022 & rated 96 points: Drank over 2 weeks and only got better each night. Hold, drink or Buy. (2650 views) | | | Tasted by Sonoffalstaff on 4/14/2022 & rated 95 points: See JJYOYO NOTE BELOW. can’t say more. Closest port I have had to 1948 . Just wonderful. (2815 views) | | | Tasted by Gzberg on 12/31/2021 & rated 97 points: Amazing. Beautiful color, balance, fruit forward but still alcoholic, like a good Fonseca. Sweet Cherry, with currants then walnut finish. Will try again tonight. Hoping it evolved like others describe. Glad I have more. Should live long life. (2767 views) | | | Tasted by Goldstone on 12/30/2021 & rated 92 points: Lunch on the terrace (cafe EPURE, Shop 403, inside Epure, Level 4, Ocean Centre, Harbour City, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong): Drank over cigars at the end of lunch on the terrace at Epure. Decanted for around three hours or more. Long decant. Has developed a slightly translucent jewelled deep ruby colour over the years since I have previously drank it. Very rounded mulled Christmas pudding spiced nose but with some higher piano notes. Palate is sharp but nicely clean cherry liqueur but gets a sheen of new velvet with more time in the glass. Always a pleasure...I remember drinking this blind ten years ago when it was still quite precocious and guessing that it needed another decade, so I'm pleased I got that right. Is very open for business now but can only improve with another decade or two. 92-ish for now. Thanks, Daniel. (2254 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By Tim Jackson MW
JancisRobinson.com (9/8/2020)
(Fonseca Port Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Roy Hersh
For The Love of Port, Issue #93 (2/26/2017)
(Fonseca Vintage Port) Subscribe to see review text. | By James Suckling
JamesSuckling.com (6/12/2016)
(Fonseca Vintage Port Douro, Portugal) Subscribe to see review text. | By Roy Hersh
For The Love of Port, Issue #73 (11/28/2012)
(Fonseca Vintage Port) Subscribe to see review text. | By Roy Hersh
For The Love of Port, Issue #61 (4/25/2011)
(Fonseca Vintage Port) Subscribe to see review text. | By Roy Hersh
For The Love of Port, Issue #62 (4/1/2011)
(Fonseca Vintage Port) Subscribe to see review text. | By Roy Hersh
For The Love of Port, Issue #59 (2/18/2011)
(Fonseca Vintage Port) Subscribe to see review text. | By Roy Hersh
For The Love of Port, July 2008, Issue #34
(Fonseca Vintage Port) Subscribe to see review text. | By John Gilman
View From the Cellar, Jan/Feb 2007, Issue #7, One Hundred Years of Taylor’s
(Fonseca) Login and sign up and see review text. | By John Kapon
Vintage Tastings, The 2002 Romanee Contis and a Mt. Sinai Hospital Charity Event (2/13/2005)
(Fonseca) Login and sign up and see review text. | By Roy Hersh
For The Love of Port
(Fonseca Vintage Port) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (10/13/2004)
(Fonseca port Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Roy Hersh
For The Love of Port
(Fonseca Vintage Port) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (5/21/2002)
(Fonseca port Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Richard Jennings
RJonWine.com (11/7/2010)
(Fonseca Porto Vintage) Medium bricking red color with pale meniscus; VA, walnut, berry, cherry nose; rich, ripe cherry, raspberry, baked berry palate with depth; long finish 95+ pts. 95 points | By Richard Jennings
RJonWine.com (7/25/2008)
(Fonseca Porto Vintage) Spicy raspberry and clove nose; tasty and very complex palate of spice, clove and dried cherry; long finish 96 points | By Richard Jennings
RJonWine.com (12/1/2007)
(Fonseca Porto Vintage) Ruby red color; lovely, deep, sweet cherry nose; tasty, deep, rich cherry palate; long finish 95 points | By Richard Jennings
RJonWine.com (11/30/2006)
(Fonseca Porto Vintage) Light red color; big strawberry liqueur nose; sweet raspberry and strawberry; long finish 93 points | By Richard Jennings
RJonWine.com (10/27/2006)
(Fonseca Porto Vintage) Reticent nose, but delicious cherry and black fruit palate; long finish 95+ pts. 95 points |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of JancisRobinson.com and For The Love of Port and JamesSuckling.com and View From the Cellar and Vintage Tastings and RJonWine.com. (manage subscription channels) |
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