For The Love Of Port

A Sunday treat: Fonseca 1966, bottled by The Wine Society and imported to the US by Wine Warehouse of Los Angeles.


On opening, at 2:30pm, beautiful colour of red edging to brown, with the nose somewhat spirity. As well as mature port, the mouth sensed Gales runny honey. However lacking the strength of backbone for which one might hope. Perhaps in a few hours.

Julian,

I just got 3 of these for my birthday last month, although mine are Justerini & Brooks bottled.

I hope your bottle comes together - this is one of my favourites 8)

Derek

PS: I'm a bit jealous sitting here with my SW83

+3 hours: the spirit has gone from the nose, and this is now a wonderful port. But the taste? It’s not pepper: is it tabasco? A great, fully mature port.

Remember that case of it your grandfather laid down for you? The one that has lain in Aunt Edna’s cellar ever since that argument with your mother (yes, the hat was dreadful, but your mother shouldn’t have said so quite so loudly). It’s time. Your should send Edna some flowers, add some lies about you having also hated whoever said that dreaful thing, and retrieve those twelve bottles. It is time to enjoy them.

+5 hours: lovely stuff. Tannins still sufficiently strong to give strength, whilst that which has become pepper gives great bite. Great port.

PS: My (2^8)th post under this login name!

+7 hours: The sugars are now starting to predominate. Starting, not fully there, but this is not as great a port as it was 3 hours ago.

Moral (for my taste at least): decant 1966s some 3 to 5 hours in advance.

Julian,

As in most older bottles, there is considerable variance. I have had this bottling more than any other 1966 except possibly the Graham's, but it is close. From recent notes of pristine bottles, the '66 Fonseca has mostly youthful color and flavors for a 40+ year old bottle. I love the Fonseca from this vintage and Derek is wise to continue buying more as IMO, this has not even reached peak yet and has quite a number of years to drink beautifully. Again, it goes bottle by bottle as I have also consumed a couple that have been fully mature. I think the bottle at the first FTLOP Offline in London showed the intensity of a great bottle still showing lots of vigor too.