NV Fonseca Terra Prima
Posted: 22:19 Sat 18 Oct 2008
NV Fonseca Terra Prima Organic Ruby Reserve
Apart from White, I think Ruby port is the style of Port of which I drink the least, although there is now not much price difference between the premium rubies and the cheaper LBVs (which is the style, on a day-to-day basis, which I drink the most). I’ve therefore been curious as to whether there is any difference between the two and so picked up a bottle of this to find out. It came in one of those silly cardboard boxes, no doubt used to clock those ugly textured bottles Fonseca uses for its non-VP and had a T-Cork.
First night was pretty unpleasant; tasted like a pretty standard £6 Ruby. 24 hours in, however, things improved quite a bit. Although the nose was subdued and muted, there was a bit of fruit and in the mouth a very strong foretaste of blackberries had developed. This is exactly the sort of thing I like in a young Port. However, it was let down by that unpleasant spirity sensation in the back of the throat which you can get from cheaper Rubies. The impressive foretaste lingered for another 12 hours or so before disappearing and the bottle reverted to being a normal Ruby.
For what this is, it’s a pretty good wine, but considering what the market is like in the UK, which a big selection of quite decent LBVs, I don’t think I’m going to be repeating this experiment!
-Jacob
Apart from White, I think Ruby port is the style of Port of which I drink the least, although there is now not much price difference between the premium rubies and the cheaper LBVs (which is the style, on a day-to-day basis, which I drink the most). I’ve therefore been curious as to whether there is any difference between the two and so picked up a bottle of this to find out. It came in one of those silly cardboard boxes, no doubt used to clock those ugly textured bottles Fonseca uses for its non-VP and had a T-Cork.
First night was pretty unpleasant; tasted like a pretty standard £6 Ruby. 24 hours in, however, things improved quite a bit. Although the nose was subdued and muted, there was a bit of fruit and in the mouth a very strong foretaste of blackberries had developed. This is exactly the sort of thing I like in a young Port. However, it was let down by that unpleasant spirity sensation in the back of the throat which you can get from cheaper Rubies. The impressive foretaste lingered for another 12 hours or so before disappearing and the bottle reverted to being a normal Ruby.
For what this is, it’s a pretty good wine, but considering what the market is like in the UK, which a big selection of quite decent LBVs, I don’t think I’m going to be repeating this experiment!
-Jacob