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At Bonham’s on 18 February 2016 was sold most of a pipe of Fonseca 1963, not moved since original purchase (lots 324 to 343).

So, on Wednesday 15th June 2016, we gathered in the Boot & Flogger to compare six of these, which were joined by a selection of other English-bottled Vintage Ports.

Links:

• Review of the evening as a whole;
• The six Fonseca 1963s:
  • 1963 Fonseca, α = alpha;
  • 1963 Fonseca, β = beta;
  • 1963 Fonseca, γ = gamma;
  • 1963 Fonseca, δ = delta;
  • 1963 Fonseca, ε = epsilon;
  • 1963 Fonseca, ζ = zeta;
• The other English-bottled Vintage Ports:
  • 1955 Mackenzie;
  • 1963 Berry Bros & Rudd;
  • 1963 Martinez;
  • 1963 Warre;
  • 1970 Fonseca;
  • 1970 Warre;
  • 1970 Smith Woodhouse;
• And one colheita:
  • 1937 Warre colheita;
• Food order.
• Placemats;
• Planning and arrangements.

30% opacity, mature red. Syrupy, rich, slightly spicy. Full red fruits, finish not as long as beta or delta.

One of the 36 bottles sourced from the pipe sold at Bonhams in February 2016, which had been bottled and stored under identical conditions. 6 bottles with the same fill (top shoulder) were opened and tasted together to investigate the extent of bottle variation in mature port.

Bottle 1: Mid-rose red, 50% opaque. Dirty fruit on the nose, smelling of rhubarb and cranberry. The dirtiness clears up after 90 minutes in the glass to reveal an attractive, fresh-picked rhubarb scent. Sweet and sour palate with sweet fruit and an acidic edge to the tongue. Air brings the palate to life and shows the freshness of the acidity. The aftertaste is delicious with lots of fruit and some milk chocolate. A lovely cranberry finish of good length. 90/100. 15-Jun-16. Decanted 3½ hours.