1985 Fonseca

[jdaw1]

Links:

• Review of the evening as a whole;
• 1983 Warre (CHJ);
• 1985 Martinez (DRT);
• 1985 Warre (RLC);
• 1960 Dow (BMHR);
• 1985 Churchill (AHB);
• 1987 Niepoort (CMAG);
• 1970 Warre (RAYC);
• 1985 Fonseca (JDAW);
• Placemats;
• Planning and arrangements.

[jdaw1]

F85, brought by JDAW. Purple, 70% opaque. Nosing of red berries, DRT correctly saying “meat counter”. Mid-weight, heat late palate. Lots of candy, and bright-toned. But only mid-weight.

Disappointingly light for a F85.

[AHB]

Firm red centre, slight paling at the rim; 70% opaque. Very distinctive nose, unlike all the other bottles this evening - reminding me of sweet and candied blood oranges and candied cherries (others described this as caramelised meat juices). Sweet violets on the palate, slightly herbaceous with plenty of sweet and candied fruit - but a little harsh and unknit. Soft, dusty tannins. Very candied / red jelly aftertaste and a sweet, chocolatey finish. 84/100. 7½ hour decant.

[griff]

Oh dear. Any reason for the poor showing?

[AHB]

Oh dear. Any reason for the poor showing?

Either a dodgy case or - we are wondering - the wine could be shutting down a bit again. We saw something like this happen to the '60s a few years ago, when the wines showed quite poorly for a couple of years and then came bouncing back to be the beauties they are today.

[griff]

Oh dear. Any reason for the poor showing?

Either a dodgy case or - we are wondering - the wine could be shutting down a bit again. We saw something like this happen to the '60s a few years ago, when the wines showed quite poorly for a couple of years and then came bouncing back to be the beauties they are today.

Thanks. For what it is worth it was looking good six months ago at a trade tasting. Mind you it was up against normal wine so it obviously showed to its advantage.

[DRT]

There is only one sensible way to resolve this question.

Six brave souls each volunteer to bring two bottles of Fonseca 1985 to The Bung Hole on an appointed date, each bottle coming from a different case/source. I, plus five others, take twelve for the team and report back.

The things we do.

[jdaw1]

It would not be honourable for me to allow you to do this alone.

> Be in their flowing cups freshly rememb’red.

[RAYC]

Oh dear. Any reason for the poor showing?

Either a dodgy case or - we are wondering - the wine could be shutting down a bit again. We saw something like this happen to the '60s a few years ago, when the wines showed quite poorly for a couple of years and then came bouncing back to be the beauties they are today.

I have been less than wowed by 4 of the last 5 of these I have had over the last 6 months (4 different sources), including what I thought was a rather average showing at BBR in december. Even the one that showed very nicely was much dryer than I remember 12 - 18 months ago. But could be just a run of bad luck.

[DRT]

It would not be honourable for me to allow you to do this alone.

> Be in their flowing cups freshly rememb’red.

It is always good to know that one has the support of a brother in arms when going into battle. Four more recruits and we will have an unstoppable force.

[g-man]

There is only one sensible way to resolve this question.

Six brave souls each volunteer to bring two bottles of Fonseca 1985 to The Bung Hole on an appointed date, each bottle coming from a different case/source. I, plus five others, take twelve for the team and report back.

The things we do.

we shall support our brother in arms on this side of the pond as Sushi and I were pondering the exact same thing over some Dow 85 and bidding on 2 cases of Fonseca 85.