1980 Fonseca Vintage Port

[Al B.]

Tasting Note from Alex K
Bought from the cellars at the Crusting Pipe, I have a bottle at home.

Basically this isn't like Fonseca. It's far too light for such a young one and I could get no flowers, but could get the coffee at the back. It's not that this is bad Port, it's just not Fonseca-ish. Drinking very well now, probably at its best, it is very enjoyable. A Port that you would enjoy of a night and completely forget what it was like two days later when you are writing tasting notes from your head.

Tasting Note from Alex B
Very pale rose colour when first opened and darkened nicely over the next 1-2 hours. Closed nose (probably because it was just opened) and very sweet into the mouth, dominated by raspberries to my taste. This particular wine generated lots of discussion with Alex K, who felt that it was not “a Fonseca wine”. We agreed that it was not a burly as a normal Fonseca, but I felt that there were enough of the floral, daisy flower and coffee aftertaste notes to convince me it was a Fonseca even if it did not show in a typical fashion. 87/100 or 3/3.

Tasting Note from Stevie K
Not a bad Port for sure, but disappointing for a Fonseca. I tried the little bit that was left over the next day, and it seemed to be falling apart (the fact that I tasted it from a teacup might not have been helpful here).