March 3, 2024 - A lovely VP, but an absolute nightmare to get the cork out. The screw went in easily, but it came apart then I pulled it up. I’ve got a great two-stage corkscrew, but the cork just ripped. It had somehow fused itself against the bottle in one area. I had to peel the left over bit out with a crab leg picker.
I poured it into a decanter through a filter. There was some sediment (and cork gristle of course!).
The colour has started to fade on this one, with some dark brick red on the edges.
I then poured a sip-sized amount into a glass. On the nose some prunes and some stewed black fruit.
On the palate an absolute prune fest. Sweet prunes, nothing else, except a little bit of hotness from the alcohol.
After 3 or 4 hours the cherries started to arrive, and the wine was much more open. Also some floral notes on the nose. The hotness had gone.
Eventually, after 5 hours, I poured it back into the bottle.
We had it after dinner, probably 10 hours after opening the bottle.
The wine was much better than when I initially opened it, and had a wide variety of fruit notes, some light oak and some chocolate.
We had it with Stilton, some dark chocolate, pecan and walnuts, and cheddar. Unsurprisingly, a great paring.
I was expecting more tannins in the wine, and was surprised by how accessible it was. I had the Taylor’s 2009 recently, and that was much darker, both in colour and flavours. The tannins were much more pronounced.
This Fonseca will last for years though, and if you have a few bottles (I have 5 left), give it a go soon, and see in 5 years how it has developed.
January 14, 2024 - I've had this bottle from release, and it was the last of a 3-bottle purchase.
No problems pulling the cork with an ah-so. Cork was on the spongy side but no signs of stains on the side. Decanted for sediment, and there was a lot of it. Left open in the decanter for a couple of hours before re-bottling and bringing it to a friend's house.
Color had a deep maroon color with a little browning at the edges of the glass. Nose was fantastic that reminded me of Luxardo cherries, baking spices, black currant jam. Not spirity on the nose as I sometimes experienced with young port. The aromas carried over to the palate on a silky palate. A surprising bonus was how it paired very well with a bacon-butternut squash risotto.
Definitely seek more port in the future and do this pairing again.
December 31, 2023 - Cherry explosion! I have three more bottles - can’t wait to see where this is at in a decade.
December 29, 2023 - Deep brick red.
Aromas of boysenberry, licorice, tobacco, cloves, geranium and rosemary.
Sweet but not over-sweet.
Grained chewy tannins. Blackberry acids and walnut bitterness.
Palate of cassis, blueberry, aniseed, espresso and cardamon.
A rather young and muscular port with red wine attributes and elegant spices. Keep for 10+ years. Tasted 2023. Tasted alongside Graham 1985. The matched wine displayed greater complexity, while the present wine has power and a stunning structure.
December 28, 2023 - 1970-2000 Fonseca Vintage Ports Vertical (Palo Alto, California): Nose: 90; Palate: 90
My #8; Group's #9; Tasted blind
December 25, 2023 - Still a baby, certainly. Came directly fromthe (very trusted) impoprted, but the corked was quite dry. The wine was not. Much too youijg, but intense clean, manly, vertical, a worthy vintage-port from a great year; and much too easy too enjoy allready at this young age.
X-Mas#Gilleleje
December 23, 2023 - Clean cork. Definite ruby and quiet on the nose. Rich palate with minimal alcohol burn. It’s ready but plenty of years on the clock. A delight.
December 15, 2023 - Corked.
November 28, 2023 - From 750, decanted to remove from sediment, then rinsed and put back in bottle. Drank over three days. Deep ruby in the glass, med + aroma intensity, aromas of coffee, tar, leather, balck cherry, black raspberry, cocoa, dried black fruits, dried flowers, endless- moving to strawberry and softer, red and black fruits by day three. The wine seems immortal. Palate confirms, sweet wine, full body, med + acid, med + tannin, the wine is intense on the palate with a long finish. Tannins are earthy, alcohol is high, but very well hidden. Palate has some youthful, fruity (matching the nose) elements that really doesn't convey 23yrs old- Outstanding wine, suitable for drinking now, but has a long life ahead of it.
October 20, 2023 - This is an outstanding and elegant port. It has incredible balance, despite the fortification. It's still loaded with beautiful fresh sweet fruit, has nice acidity, and the tannins are very mild at this point. It has great concentration and a long finish. Drank from a 375 at cellar temp without decanting.