1955 Fonseca

[jdaw1]

On Tuesday 5th May 2015, the evening before The B.F.T., in the year of Fonseca’s 200^th Bicentenary, we gathered in the Boot & Flogger and tasted some Fonsecas.

Links:

• Review of the evening as a whole;
• 1948 Fonseca (AHB);
• 1955 Fonseca (IDJ);
• 1958 Fonseca Guimaraens = † (THRA);
• 1960 Fonseca (IDJ);
• 1963 Fonseca (TC);
• 1966 Fonseca (IDJ);
• 1970 Fonseca (RLC);
• 1975 Fonseca (TC);
• 1977 Fonseca (PW);
• 1980 Fonseca (RLC);
• 1983 Fonseca (CPR);
• 1985 Fonseca single (DRL);
• 1985 Fonseca magnum (JDAW);
• 1992 Fonseca (MPM);
• 1994 Fonseca (CPR);
• Fonseca Waterloo (MPM);
• Fonseca Bicentenary Crusted (MPM);
• Food order;
• Placemats (and parameters by which made);
• Planning and arrangements.

[jdaw1]

The F66 (bottled by BBR) decanted at 7am; the F60 (Oporto bottled) at 1.15pm and the F55 (bottled by Peatling and Cawdron) at 1.30pm. Hopeful about the 66 and 55, less so the 60 as it was a leaker and the cork plunged into the bottle before the worm had hardly touched it- still, fingers crossed!

[jdaw1]

F55. Brick red, 40% opaque. Nose of dark red cherry, leather, structure there and even tannin. Palate showing coffee, rich red sweetness, and mid-palate dryness and heat. Complex. Delicious. Wonderful.

[flash_uk]

30% opacity, dark red, orange rim. Wonderful nose, classic Fonseca, medicinal mintiness. In the mouth, mid weight, very smooth, no heat, lovely sweetness and great complexity. Very nice indeed, my WOTN.

[griff]

55 strikes again!

[Alex Bridgeman]

Bottled by Peatling & Cawdron. Brick red edge, mature centre; 40% opaque. Warm nose, rich and inviting and full of mature fruit and exotic spices. Thick in texture, deeply flavoured with a powerful presence. Slightly monolithic on the early and mid-palate, but always huge and attention grabbing. A slight dirtiness under the mid-palate but offset by a fabulous bite from the acidity. A huge aftertaste, cheek tingling with intense sweetness and a mass of chewy fruit on a very, very long finish. 96/100. Decanted 6 hours.

This was also my wine of the night.