1977 Fonseca Vintage Port

Otto Nieminen · Post by **Otto Nieminen** » Tue Oct 17, 2006 3:51 pm

Fonseca VP 1977

A curious Port. This was served fully blind. The fruit was very red toned making me think of Graham's style, yet it wasn't so sweet. It was a spicy port, perfectly harmonious, not so much an in-your-face style but rather an elegant one. I can't really say more about the structure or the descriptors on the nose, because the most memorable thing was the pure seamlessness and harmony of the wine. This was certainly one of the best ports I've drunk. Thank you Nevski. The curious thing about it was that it wasn't at all like the idea of Fonseca that I have had in mind! I've always thought of Fonseca as a more blueberry than red-berry oriented wine and I've always thought it a bit more sweeter than this was. Whatever.... this rocks! I love this wine!

And thanks to board member Antti Nevalainen for bringing it over!

Post by **Andy Velebil** » Tue Oct 17, 2006 3:58 pm

Otto, good note and just goes to show you that drinking is best done blind, as you find some real surprises.

BTW, Antti can drop by my place anytime with bottles like that

Tom Chadwick · Post by **Tom Chadwick** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 8:39 am

I'm quite new to this process, however I thought I'd better dip my toe in!

Fonseca 77 has a fantastic fan base and its good to know that the proof really is in the pudding. I used to work for a merchant and stocked Fonseca '70, which again has a fantastic reputation, sadly never tried. Yet!

As a young apprentice in the trade I was allowed to use my 'staff discount'. My first serious Port experience was Fonseca '63. I purchased the btl to consume with some friends after a good and lavish meal. For reasons I won't go into We ended up drinking the bottle between three of us at 11 in the morning. A little bread and cheese and some good chats. Sadly I didn't take notes but suffice to say the memory of the occasion lives on. Subtle nuances, charming sweetness and a finish that literally left you wanting more. Amazing. I have tried it 3 times since and the quality is still amazing, although for my taste I would not have wanted to have kept the three E.B for toom many more years.

On a different note I went to a Madeira tasting in London which went back to 1795. My mind was literally blown away and has opened the doors....

If you too like old vintages check out http://www.strakerchadwick.co.uk In particular lots 980, 981 and 982.

I hope this is of interest

Post by **Roy Hersh** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 12:22 am

Otto,

Nice to see you posting a TN here and thanks for your excellent description of your experience with the '77 Fonseca. I am embarrassed at how many of these I have had in the past, especially the last three years. Crazy actually. I have found significant bottle variation, but moreso, I notice that this particular bottling shows very differently depending on how long it has been decanted ahead of consumption.

Do you know how long your bottle had been decanted before you got to try it?

Tom C.,

Nice to have you with us. The '63 Fonseca is always a pleasureable experience and the 1970 which we had whilst in Portugal recently, showed its utter impressiveness and I was glad that a few of the folks who had never tried it before, really seemed to love it. It is certainly the best (not including Nacional) Port of the vintage in my opinion and although I have opened over a case of it and one of my Magnums too, I can never have enough. Besides Nacional, if I could choose only 5 VPs after 1966, it would be in that select grouping!

Glad to hear of your Madeira epiphany. I love when that happens.

Nevski · Post by **Nevski** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 8:58 am

Thanks Otto!

I just wanted to show you how good port can be in its best - and I didn't find better way then just open legendery one and hope that it's not corked..

I'm glad it wasn't, actually it was really marvellous, shining as good as it can!

Roy, it was decanted 12 hours prior to drinking, I fully agree that this really needs a lot of air. Btw, I saved a little for the next day's dinner, and our guests were amazed about how good it was after 36 hours, no sign of dullness!

-Antti-

ps. Andy, I'm always ready to crack a good bottle in order to share it with good wine friend, just give me a note when you are around 8)

Otto Nieminen · Post by **Otto Nieminen** » Fri Nov 03, 2006 2:18 pm

Nevski wrote:Thanks Otto! I just wanted to show you how good port can be in its best - and I didn't find better way then just open legendery one and hope that it's not corked.. I'm glad it wasn't, actually it was really marvellous, shining as good as it can!
Roy, it was decanted 12 hours prior to drinking, I fully agree that this really needs a lot of air. Btw, I saved a little for the next day's dinner, and our guests were amazed about how good it was after 36 hours, no sign of dullness!

Antti, Thanks again for your generousity! This port rocks. And I think 12 hours was quite the perfect time for it to show well: after you had left, and I had a bit left in my glass, it started becoming more spirity and less elegant. I hope to see you in a couple weeks on Thursday at the big port tasting! But don't come by car - get a driver for that day!

-O-

Post by **Andy Velebil** » Fri Nov 03, 2006 3:36 pm

Otto Nieminen wrote:
Nevski wrote: But don't come by car - get a driver for that day!

-O-

Ahh, the words of a good tasting

If you guys every get to Los Angeles give me a hollar.