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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. Caramel nose with mature dried fruits. Lovely smooth entry, gentle heat, fruit a bit more dried out than delta. Nice long aftertaste.

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 2: Same appearance as bottle 1. Restrained nose with some vague sour fruit that didn't change much over the course of 90 minutes in the glass. Neutral on entry, lightly flavoured; gentle at first but the fruit flavour builds well on the mid-palate. Slightly sour, very fruity and surprisingly elegant in structure. A delicious and long finish. This is lovely port, spot on for drinking now. 91/100. 15-Jun-16. Decanted 3½ hours.