Tue 05 May 2015, Boot & Flogger, Fonseca

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jdaw1
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Tue 05 May 2015, Boot & Flogger, Fonseca

Post by jdaw1 »

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

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Re: Tue 05 May 2015, Boot & Flogger, Fonseca

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Re: Tue 05 May 2015, Boot & Flogger, Fonseca

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Re: Tue 05 May 2015, Boot & Flogger, Fonseca

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Re: Tue 05 May 2015, Boot & Flogger, Fonseca

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Re: Tue 05 May 2015, Boot & Flogger, Fonseca

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Re: Tue 05 May 2015, Boot & Flogger, Fonseca

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Re: Tue 05 May 2015, Boot & Flogger, Fonseca

Post by Axel P »

why is Phil the only one drinking?
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Re: Tue 05 May 2015, Boot & Flogger, Fonseca

Post by DaveRL »

Axel P wrote:why is Phil the only one drinking?
Curious. Yet drinking happened, as evidenced by the many empty glasses (particularly of the first especially delicious flight). In my case more than sufficient drinking that I passed on the opportunity of the BFT the day after - my brain was willing but my body thought otherwise. Apologies.

An excellent evening. Thank you. I will now try and make sense of my tasting notes...
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Re: Tue 05 May 2015, Boot & Flogger, Fonseca

Post by Glenn E. »

Axel P wrote:why is Phil the only one drinking?
Dedication and focus. Phil is all business.
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Re: Tue 05 May 2015, Boot & Flogger, Fonseca

Post by PhilW »

Glenn E. wrote:
Axel P wrote:why is Phil the only one drinking?
Dedication and focus. Phil is all business.
Catching up would be more likely! The B+F was short of glasses that night, so we effectively had two flights, and I spent long enough taking photos that I got behind.

Will post more later; taste aside the F48 was a great looking bottle. Will post a pic when back home.
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Re: Tue 05 May 2015, Boot & Flogger, Fonseca

Post by CPR 1 »

An great evening and a excellent line up thus big thanks to Mike for organising.

The F55 was deservedly wine of the night, but many others were also great underlining why Fonseca is one of my favourite shippers
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Re: Tue 05 May 2015, Boot & Flogger, Fonseca

Post by flash_uk »

Very enjoyable evening - many thanks to all for the great company. A quick summary of the scores. Wine of the Flight (Flight 1: 1948-1977), 1955 followed by 1970 then 1966. Points also for FG58, 1963 and 1948. Wine of the Flight (Flight 2: 1980 - 1994, Crusted, Waterloo), 85 Mag, 1994, 85 single. Very few points for anything else.

WOTN: 55, followed by 70 then 66 (with 8 points). The 85 Mag scored 6 points.
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Re: Tue 05 May 2015, Boot & Flogger, Fonseca

Post by Alex Bridgeman »

That was a terrific evening and a splendid line-up of ports. I particularly enjoyed being able to compare the 1992 against the 1994. My port of the night was the 1955 and what a port that was - wow!

Thanks to Mike for organising us into the tasting. A great evening.
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Re: Tue 05 May 2015, Boot & Flogger, Fonseca

Post by idj123 »

Echo the above-great night and well organised (although we need to be mindful of their requirements for glasses going forward). We almost had a perfect first sheet (ie the six oldest wines) only spoilt by the oxidised F60, although I took some consolation in the two other wines I brought (F55 and F60) coming in 1st and 3rd on the night. The F55 in particular was drinking superbly but with plenty of life still in it yet. The Food and service were also good (and the extra black pudding in lieu of my egg was a nice touch and unsolicited).
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Re: Tue 05 May 2015, Boot & Flogger, Fonseca

Post by PhilW »

In addition to being delicious, the F48 brought by Alex was also a fabulous bottle:
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IMG_1813b.JPG (34.36 KiB) Viewed 18541 times
This was an excellent evening, with a fine array of Fonseca. Only two faulty bottles, the F60 (completely oxidised) and the F77 (brought by me, which I noted as possibly bacterial); I also thought the F83 did not show normally. Unexpected surprise of the night for me was the F75 which was delicious, and the first time I've drunk a '75 I felt was worth buying. The FG58 was a late addition and also lovely, though nothing could beat the first page ('48 - '70) which (ignoring the '60) was absolutely superb.

This was not a shabby evening! Much thanks to Mike for organising.
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Re: Tue 05 May 2015, Boot & Flogger, Fonseca

Post by benread »

I really enjoy the vertical tastings as a way of seeing how the house styles evolved over the years. My two thoughts from this tasting were that Fonseca have had very few dud years (even the 1975 was very nice) and the 1994 is a vintage I really must add to my cellar when I get it!

Thank you to the organisers and to those who kindly supplied the excellent range of port on offer.
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Re: Tue 05 May 2015, Boot & Flogger, Fonseca

Post by DaveRL »

Biggest surprise for me was that the Lame Duck '75 defied all known medical science by rising to its feet and waddling off. Though light in weight it was tasty. The '83 didn't, I feel, show as well as it could, and certainly fell well short of the excellent '85. Even so, given the miracle of the '75, the '83 could yet surprise to the upside.

Agree the first flight stole the show. The '48 (many thanks Alex) '55 '58 and '70 were particular highlights.
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Re: Tue 05 May 2015, Boot & Flogger, Fonseca

Post by Alex Bridgeman »

Rather cheekily we subtitled this "The Best of the Fonseca Bicentennial Tastings" because it was supposed to be happening on the same night at TFP held their celebratory tasting. Sadly, the TFP tasting didn't take place so leaving us hosting what was unrivalled as the best Fonseca Bicentenary tasting.

Richard Mayson was invited to the official TFP Fonseca Bicentenary Tasting and Dinner and recently posted his tasting notes http://www.richardmayson.com/Vintage_Port_Notes/. With attendees having the opportunity to drink Fonseca 1985 from a corked imperial and a tasty 1963, I think we can say with confidence that our Bicentenary tasting was the best.
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Re: Tue 05 May 2015, Boot & Flogger, Fonseca

Post by Andy Velebil »

AHB wrote:Rather cheekily we subtitled this "The Best of the Fonseca Bicentennial Tastings" because it was supposed to be happening on the same night at TFP held their celebratory tasting. Sadly, the TFP tasting didn't take place so leaving us hosting what was unrivalled as the best Fonseca Bicentenary tasting.

Richard Mayson was invited to the official TFP Fonseca Bicentenary Tasting and Dinner and recently posted his tasting notes http://www.richardmayson.com/Vintage_Port_Notes/. With attendees having the opportunity to drink Fonseca 1985 from a corked imperial and a tasty 1963, I think we can say with confidence that our Bicentenary tasting was the best.
Appears someone forgot to bring the backup 1985 Fonseca imperial :oops:
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