1985 Fonseca

[Alex Bridgeman]

Drunk at Panascal. This was the oldest bottle available in the visitor's shop at the Quinta. 25,000 cases produced.

Deep red and opaque at the centre. Initially empty on the nose but some work in the glass releases dark and brooding red fruit. Smooth satin texture brings a gentle cherry and almond palate with soft and supportive tannins. The fruit is sweet and pure and has a lovely poise to it, this is showing and being mature and ripe but in no hurry to be drunk. The sweet cherry aftertaste leads to a dry chocolate and slightly chewy finish. Very tasty, but suffering from the comparison with the other wines drunk alongside which were 60 years older! 92/100. Drunk 27-Sep-16. Decanted ½ hour.