Fonseca vs Nacional EPIC Legacy Port Weekend

Northern Chicago Restaurants
Tasted Saturday, October 18, 2025 - Sunday, October 19, 2025 by jlgnml with 93 views

Introduction

My wife and I organize charity wine events under “Grapes for Great Causes”. Over 20 years we have helped to raise over $1.2M for various charities with our wine. I had this idea to have Fonseca and Nacional on 2 separate days but with Roy Hersh that when both Christian Seely and Adrian Bridge could attend I blended the 2 for an EPIC Legacy weekend. Thank you to all the attendees and our guests as the weekend was a big success.

Flight 1 (1 Note)

At Oceanique Restaurant in Evanston, IL. Passed hors d’oeveres. Thank you to Chef Chris Koetke who worked tiredly with both chefs on their menus.
Tarte Flambé (Bacon, Onion & Fromage Blanc)
Argentinian Shrimp w/Garlic, Lemon & Parsley
Chicken Liver Pate w/Brioche

Flight 2 (4 Notes)

Maine Lobster with Garnet Sweet Potato, Sauce Americaine, Lemongrass and Litchi Sorbet

  • 1955 Quinta do Noval Porto Vintage 95 Points

    Portugal, Douro, Porto

    (10/18/2025)

    Epic Legacy Port Weekend. Out of magnum from my new best friend, Cliff. Decanted as a PnP. Darker color, youthful in appearance, beautiful nose, a bit sharp, good palate weight, delicious and delightful what to start our weekend

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  • 1947 Quinta do Noval Porto Vintage Nacional 98 Points

    Portugal, Douro, Porto

    (10/18/2025)

    Decanted 3 hours before tasting at the Epic Legacy Port Event. Good clean color, distinctive taste on the palate, good weight, very enjoyable, sweet finish, featuring 32 grape varietals.

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  • 1948 Fonseca Porto Vintage 98 Points

    Portugal, Douro, Porto

    (10/18/2025)

    Decanted 3 hours before tasting at the Epic Legacy Port Tasting. Clean color, super flavor, my kind of port. Old-fashioned farming, 23 years before electricity.

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  • 1962 Quinta do Noval Porto Vintage Nacional 94 Points

    Portugal, Douro, Porto

    (10/18/2025)

    This was actually the HTF 1962/63 bottle. Decanted 3 hours before Epic Legacy Port Tasting. Good color, more alcohol on the nose and a slight scent of cinnamon, palate freshness, and bottled in. 1965. Resembles the 1960 vintage.

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Flight 3 (4 Notes)

Loin of Venison with Belgian Endive, Spinach and Grand Veneur Sauce

  • 1970 Fonseca Porto Vintage 93 Points

    Portugal, Douro, Porto

    (10/18/2025)

    Darker yet clean color, super fine corky or mold, not on the smell but the palate. Still great as it did not diminish for how good this was. Some say a bit of TCA.

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  • 1970 Quinta do Noval Porto Vintage Nacional 97 Points

    Portugal, Douro, Porto

    (10/18/2025)

    Darker color. Distinctive Touriga grape nose and taste. Cough syrup taste was mild and enjoyable, sweet with a herbal nose.

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  • 1975 Fonseca Porto Vintage 97 Points

    Portugal, Douro, Porto

    (10/18/2025)

    Clean color. Tasty on the palate and finish. Alcohol was at the back end after a 4+hr decant. So smooth. BUY

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  • 1975 Quinta do Noval Porto Vintage Nacional 96 Points

    Portugal, Douro, Porto

    (10/18/2025)

    Good color as this was a donation from Christian for the event. Good long finish with images of a roaring fire, walnuts and cheese.

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Flight 4 (1 Note)

  • 2009 Argyle Extended Tirage Brut 90 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

    (10/18/2025)

    EapIC Legacy Port Weekend. Out of magnum. Good color and good Chardonnay nose. Lacking depth we so much enjoyed with other vintages. Enjoyable and one more mag left.

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Flight 5 (4 Notes)

Blue cheeses
Point Reyes Original Blue (Tomales Bay, CA)
Cambozola Black Label (Allgeu, Germany)
Maytag Blue (Newton, IA)

  • 1980 Fonseca Porto Vintage 90 Points

    Portugal, Douro, Porto

    (10/18/2025)

    Light on the palate, Ok, weak on the palate, good color, interesting….drink up.

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  • 1980 Quinta do Noval Porto Vintage Nacional 95 Points

    Portugal, Douro, Porto

    (10/18/2025)

    EPIC Legacy Port weekend. Deeper amber color, good nose and flavor, however the flavor was interesting. Terrific finish and best of the flight of 80’s.

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  • 1985 Fonseca Porto Vintage 93 Points

    Portugal, Douro, Porto

    (10/18/2025)

    Deepest and darkest color of the flight. Deeper concentration of flavors on the palate with a good finish n

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  • 1985 Quinta do Noval Porto Vintage Nacional 90 Points

    Portugal, Douro, Porto

    (10/18/2025)

    EPIC Legacy Port Weekend. Lovely color with great expectations. Poor flavor, note of wet diaper with the after taste. After 30 min it calmed down but not great, just good.

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Flight 6 (3 Notes)

Warm Chocolate Tarte w/Canela Ice Cream and Red Berry-Port Coulee

  • 2000 Fonseca Porto Vintage 95 Points

    Portugal, Douro, Porto

    (10/18/2025)

    EPIC Legacy Port Weekend. Deeper amber color color, long lasting flavor, lingering on the finish, wanting more. Long term potential. Great declared year.

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  • 2000 Quinta do Noval Porto Vintage Nacional 90 Points

    Portugal, Douro, Porto

    (10/18/2025)

    EPIC Legacy Port Weekend. Initial impression, green underdeveloped grapes. Will this improve over time I suspect it will. Too young for my enjoyment.

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  • 2011 Fonseca Porto Vintage 95 Points

    Portugal, Douro, Porto

    (10/18/2025)

    EPIC Legacy Port Weekend. Deepest color of the flight of (3). First class finish. Great lingering flavor, dark fruit dominance, enjoyable with the ice cream dessert. So much potential and I do believe my son but my grandson will enjoy. 😊

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Flight 7 (1 Note)

George Trois room at Aboyer Restaurant in Winnetka, IL

Passed Hors D’Oeuvres
Foie Gras Torchon on Brioche, Sauternes Glazzed Shallot Warm Gougeres
Smoked Salmon Rilettes on Confit Potato

  • 1998 Piper-Heidsieck Champagne Cuvée Rare 96 Points

    France, Champagne

    (10/19/2025)

    Out of magnum to finish the last day of the event. Darker aged color that just had all the wrappings of a great glass of champagne. Nutty, lemon, voluptuous, a real tour de force.

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Flight 8 (4 Notes)

Fennel Pollen Seared Ahi Tuna over Melted Fennel, sauce Beurre Rouge

  • 1955 Quinta do Noval Porto Vintage 98 Points

    Portugal, Douro, Porto

    (10/19/2025)

    Epic Legacy Port Weekend. The balance from the previous day with some time in a decanter. Smooth, caramel, still youthful, so perfect on the next day. Vibrant with spice.

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  • 1955 Fonseca Porto Vintage 99 Points

    Portugal, Douro, Porto

    (10/19/2025)

    EPIC Legacy Port Weekend. Deep amber color, still a hint of alcohol, good long lasting finish with lots of vibrancy.

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  • 1955 Quinta do Noval Porto Vintage Nacional 98 Points

    Portugal, Douro, Porto

    (10/19/2025)

    EPIC Legacy Port Weekend. Good color, lighter and light weight on the palate. Sweet finish, not unlike the Fonseca. My last of (3) btls.

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  • 1960 Fonseca Porto Vintage 95 Points

    Portugal, Douro, Porto

    (10/19/2025)

    EPIC legacy Port Weekend. Very nice, a bit over shadowed by the flight of ‘55’s. Really good for my as I do like Fonseca. This was to celebrate the vintage year Christian Seeley was born in.

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Flight 9 (4 Notes)

Roast Marget Breast of Duck, Confit Leg, Spinach & Chantrelle “Lasagna” with Brown Butter Bechamel and Port Wine Poached D’Anjou Pear Gastrique over Gruyere Romano Gratin Dauphinoise

  • 1963 Fonseca Porto Vintage 99 Points

    Portugal, Douro, Porto

    (10/19/2025)

    EPIC Legacy Port Weekend. Darker color, decanted for 4 hrs. Strong alcohol on the palate which dissipated over the next 2hrs. OMG really great. Late harvest, 10/14.

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  • 1963 Quinta do Noval Porto Vintage Nacional 100 Points

    Portugal, Douro, Porto

    (10/19/2025)

    Darker color, 4 hrs decant. Really good on the nose and very balanced on the palate. Fantastic, jumps out with its sweetness. 2 hrs OMG!

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  • 1966 Fonseca Porto Vintage 96 Points

    Portugal, Douro, Porto

    (10/19/2025)

    EPIC Legacy Port Weekend. Deeper darker color for the whole flight. Good flavor and so enjoyable.

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  • 1966 Quinta do Noval Porto Vintage Nacional 97 Points

    Portugal, Douro, Porto

    (10/19/2025)

    EPIC Legacy Port Weekend. Deep color, amber,like a dark ale, good plate weight and feel. Enjoayable with lots of concentration. Going to last a very long time.

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Flight 10 (1 Note)

Flight 11 (4 Notes)

A Tasting of Three Stiltons

Flight 12 (3 Notes)

Candied Black Mission Fig Financier, Spiced Brown Sugar Crème Fraiche

  • 2003 Fonseca Porto Vintage 95 Points

    Portugal, Douro, Porto

    (10/19/2025)

    EPIC Legacy Port Weekend. Hot year, rich and forward dark fruit, finesse of the tannin’s.

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  • 2003 Quinta do Noval Porto Vintage Nacional 93 Points

    Portugal, Douro, Porto

    (10/19/2025)

    EPIC Legacy Port Weekend. Again with these Nationals for 2000 and 2003, they ap have a funky nose that takes time to blow off in the glass. Decanted for 9 hrs.

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  • 2011 Quinta do Noval Porto Vintage Nacional 98 Points

    Portugal, Douro, Porto

    (10/19/2025)

    EPIC Legacy Port Weekend. Outstanding both with the color and just about everything you would want in a vintage port. Lots of flavor on the palate and all the structure to develop over the next 50+ years. BUY if you are young.

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Closing

The weekend could not have gone any better for the 18 attendees. Thank you to our Chefs both Mark Groz and Michael Lachowicz who worked with Chef Chris Koetke. Our Somme Ricky Richard Ribano and our photographer Lorenzo Tassone.
Lastly to my wife, Linda who inspired the “Grapes for Great Causes” theme and all of her support. Yes, another event will happen in the near future.

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