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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 93.6 pts. and median of 94 pts. in 315 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by RayOB on 4/22/2024 & rated 94 points: Drank at 67
A beautiful example. Open and delicious with lots of life left. (976 views) | | | Tasted by alanr on 3/25/2024 & rated 94 points: Quite dark, though no longer completely opaque, color is slightly muddy garnet, still quite youthful in appearance at almost 40 years old. Wonderful nose, fragrant, anise, tar, some maple wood shavings; this has barely budged on the palate in the 30 years I’ve been following it, with sweet, anise laden fruit, the tannins are probably what has changed most, softening considerably, but still present, with almost ideal structure at this point. Quite rich, sweeter than I remember, but plenty of acidity for balance. Some nice subtle complexity, and will probably develop further as it airs over the next few days. Remains one of my favorite vintage Ports, and has decades of life ahead of it still, though very drinkable now if you like some youthfulness.
Added: been drinking this for 4 nights now, keeping it fridged. Hasn’t really budged, pretty much the same as night one. Really pretty amazing a 40 year old wine can drink so well for many days after opening. (1740 views) | | | Tasted by cliffkol on 3/4/2024 & rated 94 points: great depth, delicious. decanted 10 hours, even better next day. could use overnight decant. (1115 views) | | | Tasted by vinolovers on 3/3/2024 & rated 97 points: Decanted about 3 hours. Initially had a musty prune nose that disappeared by the time of service. A nice dark ruby color. Lots of red fruit, some dried herbs, a hint of chocolate and leather. Wonderful. (1972 views) | | | Tasted by Jth3 on 2/8/2024: VG to Outstanding (2542 views) | | | Tasted by SixHedgehogs on 1/13/2024 & rated 94 points: Dinner 13th Jan 2024 (Catford): Surprisingly youthful. Bright purple red colour. Lovely spirity fruity aroma, touch of pine. Fine blackcurrant and blackberry flavours, hints of eucalyptus and ginger. Opens up over an hour with brighter red fruit and a touch of fig/christmas cake. Delicious. (3111 views) | | | Tasted by Sean McGrath on 1/6/2024: Opened two bottles. Decanted one the evening before and the other in the morning. The first bottle had a nice cork and was delicious: smooth and rich. The second bottle was corroded on the top of the cork, was a pain to open, and had a faint but very odd smell.
Fortunately, with guests we only got through the first bottle! (3210 views) | | | Tasted by zscheiner on 12/27/2023: Cork was saturated 3/4 of the way up and required some work to extract fully. Decanted ~3 hours before service and this was lovely. None of the heat of our last bottle 14 years ago, just beautiful dried red fruits with hints of black fig. Long finish. It does not drink like nearly 40 year old port and would seem to have decades of life left, if corks hold! (2900 views) | | | Tasted by tadams66 on 12/27/2023 & rated 94 points: Still really excellent. It is in a great spot. (2842 views) | | | Tasted by Chimer on 12/25/2023 & rated 95 points: Decanted for 24 hours prior to Christmas day lunch. This was a stellar bottle, I've had oxidised bottles a couple of times in the past 2 or 3 years but this was perfect. Great colour, wonderfully ripe fleshy Fonseca fruit and powerful but ripe tannins. A really full bodied generous Port in its prime. (2697 views) | | | Tasted by stayhappy21 on 12/20/2023 & rated 91 points: Tasted this at a wine dinner at Tunglok Signatures (Orchard Rendezvous Hotel) with my wine mates. Theme of the evening: A good wine for Christmas and the New Year.
Purple in colour with notes of haw, figs, and dried dates. Rounded on the palate and the structure is well supported by the fruits and sweetness. (2811 views) | | | Tasted by hotdogbudget on 12/17/2023: Open a couple hours.
Raisins, fig newtons, baking spices laid over a base of still primary black cherry fruit. Plenty of alcoholic warmth with still a touch of velvety yet present tannins. Big unctuous texture then the light, balanced acids and velvety tannins come through. Lingering finish. Based on a bottle I had a few years ago this will drink well for several days on the counter, or pour half in a 12 oz bottle and stick in the fridge and bring it out up 2-4 weeks later no problem (2739 views) | | | Tasted by Philip67 on 12/17/2023 & rated 93 points: Will warrant a much higher score when ready. This is still monolithic but delicious. Still very much primary at this stage. Best to wait another 20 years. (2617 views) | | | Tasted by swade on 12/17/2023 & rated 96 points: Fig paste, blackberry and bramble galore. Super. A top wine at a tasting of fourteen. 96 (2558 views) | | | Tasted by RayOB on 12/12/2023 flawed bottle: Drank at 67
Really unusual two bottles dead. (2854 views) | | | Tasted by Jamieson12o on 12/8/2023 & rated 95 points: NLWTS - Fortified at M&L Warren Street (Must & Lees Warren Street): Opened 8hrs prior, decanted 1hr. Dark ruby/purple. Lives up to its monumental reputation. *So* young! Delicious with miles left in the tank. (2526 views) | | | Tasted by oenanthe on 12/8/2023 & rated 93 points: Fortified Evening with the TWS North London Group (Must & Lees, Warren Street): The darkest of the 1985. Now *this* is Port I found myself saying. It has dialled up the richness and unctuousness of the fruit, it is fuller bodied, like a dark christmas pudding. Wonderfully silky and smooth. Morphs into something a little medicinal, like cough mixture. Real presence. Excellent, one to look out for. Group WOTN by a huge margin. My #2. (2771 views) | | | Tasted by theportguy on 10/14/2023 & rated 88 points: Sammamish Port Club - 1970's Ports (Seattle, Washington): Deep, luxurious purple with a slight garnet rim. The viscosity is apparent as the wine gracefully coats the glass. Chocolate, lush dark fruit and light red currant. A touch of oxidation on the approach with lively acidity and noticeable tannins. Old dusty fruit notes on the medium-long finish. With more time in the glass, aromas of mushrooms, prune and sassafras appeared, and the group thought this bottle was a little off either through excessive oxidation or perhaps the faintest hints of TCA. (2840 views) | | | Tasted by ricard on 8/13/2023 & rated 95 points: Really quite alcoholic on the nose... But it's not remotely aggressive - it's remarkably soft and silky and has real depth to it. Figs and dates and intensely rich and chocolatey. It's somewhat lacking in structure for my taste, but it's a virtue as well: its enveloping softness is quite, quite irresistible. Really! (3892 views) | | | Tasted by tadams66 on 6/24/2023 & rated 95 points: This was interesting from the start but it really came into its own after 2 days. It had layers of complexity with tobacco, blackberries, leather, etc. all integrated. Really excellent but give it time to open up. (3677 views) | | | Tasted by Motz on 6/11/2023 & rated 97 points: Fonseca, Vila Nova de Gaia: This commanded attention from the outset! Sophisticated and wondrous perfume. Dried raspberry, Turkish apricot, dried fig, Medjool dates, dried rose petals, 'sweet' umami, carob, spices, dried mint, white pepper, and dusty mineral ores.
The wine tastes like it smells. Texturally riveting! It elevates the senses. Powdery tannins drape a finish with no quit!
A top five Vintage Port of my (wine) lifetime. Drink or hold, for several more years. 97-98. (4302 views) | | | Tasted by chaloneri on 6/3/2023 & rated 95 points: So very good, still really fresh at nearly 40 years old. Better after 24 hours and then the fruit really came to the fore. Raspberry, herbs and spice. Drinking really well (3547 views) | | | Tasted by Alykhan V on 3/28/2023 & rated 93 points: By the glass
In a great place, 2/3 primary/secondary and 1/3 tertiary
Ripe bramble fruits, noticeable smokiness, meat, leather
Medium+ body, high acid, finishes off dry to medium sweet
Outstanding length
Drink confidently now or over next 15 years easily (4292 views) | | | Tasted by Jamieson12o on 3/13/2023 & rated 95 points: Double decanted 24 hours prior to drinking. No detailed TN as drunk at the end of dinner but it was glorious (and definitely at the best point of its 24 hour evolution having tried some at various increments since opening). But so youthful! (3601 views) | | | Tasted by Chris on 2/9/2023 & rated 91 points: Not bad. 38 year old port should have some more flavor than this though. A bit light overall. Not sure this will develop any more in the bottle. (3705 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By Tom Parker MW
JancisRobinson.com (3/31/2022)
(Fonseca Port Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Tim Jackson MW
JancisRobinson.com (9/9/2020)
(Fonseca Port Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Richard Hemming, MW
JancisRobinson.com (5/9/2018)
(Fonseca Port Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (3/9/2017)
(Fonseca Port Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Roy Hersh
For The Love of Port, Issue #90 (11/11/2016)
(Fonseca Vintage Port) Subscribe to see review text. | By Richard Hemming, MW
JancisRobinson.com (4/20/2016)
(Fonseca Port Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (12/4/2015)
(Fonseca Port Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Richard Hemming, MW
JancisRobinson.com (5/6/2015)
(Fonseca Port Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Richard Mayson
Decanter, Top 20 Ports for Christmas (10/12/2014)
(Fonseca, Port, Douro, Portugal, Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Roy Hersh
For The Love of Port, Issue #74 (1/13/2013)
(Fonseca Vintage Port) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (10/4/2012)
(Fonseca, Guimaraens port Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Roy Hersh
For The Love of Port, Issue #69 (3/31/2012)
(Fonseca Vintage Port) Subscribe to see review text. | By Roy Hersh
For The Love of Port, Issue #63 (10/29/2011)
(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 #58 (1/29/2011)
(Fonseca Vintage Port) Subscribe to see review text. | By Richard Hemming, MW
JancisRobinson.com (7/22/2010)
(Fonseca port Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Chris Kissack
Winedoctor, March 2009
(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 Roy Hersh
For The Love of Port, May 2007, Issue #24
(Fonseca Vintage Port) Subscribe to see review text. | By Chris Kissack
Winedoctor, November 2006
(Fonseca Vintage Port) 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 (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 Roy Hersh
For The Love of Port
(Fonseca Vintage Port) Subscribe to see review text. | By Chris Kissack
Winedoctor, October 2000
(Fonseca Vintage Port) Subscribe to see review text. | By Richard Mayson
Decanter
(Fonseca, Port, Douro, Portugal, Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Richard Jennings
RJonWine.com (5/4/2013)
(Fonseca Porto Vintage) Bricking very dark red violet color; baked berry, VA, baked black fruit nose; rich, tasty, baked berry, blackberry, black cherry palate, maturing nicely; long finish 94 points | By Richard Jennings
RJonWine.com (4/3/2010)
(Fonseca Porto Vintage) Very dark red violet color; primary, berry, chocolate, fig nose; rich, youthful, berry, black fruit, chocolate, fig palate; long finish 94 points | By Richard Jennings
RJonWine.com (7/21/2007)
(Fonseca Porto Vintage) Sweet cherry, vanilla and plum nose; young, rich, cherry, vanilla palate; long finish 94 points |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of JancisRobinson.com and For The Love of Port and Decanter and Winedoctor and RJonWine.com. (manage subscription channels) |
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