1994 Fonseca

[jdaw1]

A horizontal of 1994 and a G83 were tasted at Bordeaux Index, 10 Hatton Garden EC1N 8AH on Tuesday 4^th March 2014, in the presence of Richard Mayson, as arranged by Michael Schuster of MichaelSchusterWine.com.

Links:

• Review of the evening as a whole;
• 1994 Quinta do Crasto (#1);
• 1994 Smith Woodhouse (#2);
• 1994 Gould Campbell (#3);
• 1994 Ramos Pinto (#4);
• 1994 Martinez Quinta da Eira Velha (#5);
• 1994 Martinez (#6);
• 1994 Niepoort (#7);
• 1994 Quinta do Noval (#8);
• 1994 Quinta do Vesuvio (#9);
• 1994 Dow (#10);
• 1994 Warre (#11);
• 1994 Graham (#12);
• 1994 Fonseca (#13);
• 1994 Taylor (#14);
• 1983 Graham;
• Arrangements on MichaelSchusterWine.com;
• Arrangements on ThePortForum.com.

[jdaw1]

F94. Dark red, 80% opaque. Big. Some grit early- and mid-palate. Great blend of red and black fruit. Excellent port, and for me, third-laced behind Dow and then Taylor.

[flash_uk]

90% opacity, deep deep red, great gloopy legs. Spice, pepper followed by damson in the nose. Then wow! Big, big body, great structure, well balanced, smooth entry, some bite in the middle, tastes full, lots of plums, long finish. As I write this up am wondering why this wasn't my WOTN, but must trust my notes on the Dow and Warre I suppose

[DRT]

Nothing on the nose (closed) - big, delicious and very smooth on the palate but in need of a decade or more.

*****

[djewesbury]

24 hour decant. About 85%, ruby with a very slight brown-orange tone. Nose is very fresh and clean. Prim, even. It's pretty, delicate and elegant. Not a great deal of spice, perhaps raspberries. In the mouth (yes, I was still on the nose) it gives a little less; rather delicate and quiet. Lightly fruity, without tannins. Alcohol comes mid-palate, and it finishes with spice on the teeth and gums.

[Alex Bridgeman]

Deep red, less bricking that the Taylor shown alongside and a small transparent rim. Fresh nose of spearmint and ozone, but little by way of fruit. Closed initially on the palate; lots of work does allow fruit to develop and show, the fruit becoming a chewy and dense but restrained by the tannins. More closed on the palate than the Taylor, but intense and concentrated with powerful roasted cocoa tannins. Smooth aftertaste, hollow at first but then develops into a long and concentrated chewy sweet bubblegum and chocolate finish. Very fine, flavoursome port. 94/100. Decanted 20 hours.