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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.

45% opacity, mature red. Mature, syrupy, dried fruit. Charles mentioned this was said to be a Taylor port, and it did have some Taylor-esque notes about it for me.

Mature red colour, a soft rose; 60% opaque. Lovely mature nose, slightly sweet and slightly smokey. The nose faded over the course of 90 minutes sitting in the glass. When tasted this initially delivered a lovely redcurrant and cranberry, sour and mouthfilling. Gentle and soft tannins on the mid-palate with wonderful floral overtones and good complexity. The overall impression given by the palate is surprisingly youthful with the fruit still very fresh. The finish is very fine and long, starting with fruit and goes through many phases. Very good port. 93/100