1985 Fonseca

Tasting notes for individual Ports, with an index sorted by vintage and alphabetically.
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Tasting notes for individual Ports, with an index sorted by vintage and alphabetically.
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Alex Bridgeman
Graham’s 1948
Posts: 14879
Joined: 13:41 Mon 25 Jun 2007
Location: Berkshire, UK

1985 Fonseca

Post by Alex Bridgeman »

Deep red, youthful and opaque. Stunning nose, full of sweet red jelly beans, very pronounced with just a hint of menthol. Full and rich on the palate; sweet, soft and concentrated with gentle tannins that give a lovely black pepperiness. Huge palate presence, with a soft and velvety texture. Dark chocolate dominates the finish, which is massive and long lasting. This is a fabulous bottle of a stunning port - absolutely amazing. 94/100. Drunk 11-Sep-12. 20 hour decant.

One of the wines drunk at the offline on 11th September 2012.
Gould Campbell 1977 tasting note
Graham 1960 tasting note
Smith Woodhouse 1977 tasting note
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.

2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
griff
Warre’s Traditional LBV
Posts: 347
Joined: 09:43 Thu 03 Jun 2010
Location: Sydney

Re: 1985 Fonseca

Post by griff »

I'm not sure it this helps the question of whether this port can be broached or not. Such a contrast of views at present. Maybe we will have to check once again.
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Alex Bridgeman
Graham’s 1948
Posts: 14879
Joined: 13:41 Mon 25 Jun 2007
Location: Berkshire, UK

Re: 1985 Fonseca

Post by Alex Bridgeman »

griff wrote:I'm not sure it this helps the question of whether this port can be broached or not. Such a contrast of views at present. Maybe we will have to check once again.
Oh OK. If we really must. I suppose someone has to; it's all right. I'll do it for the team...

:tpf:

More seriously, I think this port can be drunk now with a lot of satisfaction, but it just needs a stonkingly long decant to show at its best.
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.

2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
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jdaw1
Cockburn 1851
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Joined: 15:03 Thu 21 Jun 2007
Location: London
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Re: 1985 Fonseca

Post by jdaw1 »

F85, decanted 23:00 the previous night. Hint of purple, 90% opaque. Red grapes on nose. Taste very soft, with a hint of pétillant. Again, grape. Medium-big, sweet softness, lovely. Later I wondered about a possible overlap between the ‟hint of pétillant” and black pepper.
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