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This is one of the masterpieces of the ports made in my lifetime and this bottle was no exception, being the port I rated as the best on show at the 2013 Port Walk. Brick red and lightening to have become only 50% opaque this was initially subdued on the nose but opened up to show a hedonstic mix of spearmint, raspberry jelly and summer garden flower perfume. The floral edge continued onto the palate, which had plentiful ripe fruit with the elegance expected from a great Fonseca. The lively tannins were most noticeable on the finish, supporting a strong red licorice edge on the amazing length. Just stunning. 97/100. Drunk at the BBR Port Walk on 28 Nov 2013.

Does this move into contention as the best port of the year?

Sadly (or perhaps happily) it does not. In 2013 I was lucky enough to drink some superb ports and one or two of them were even better than this.

But your question did make me take another look at my 2014 best port so far, and that has now changed.