Fonseca vs Niepoort - 6th October 2026

[PhilW]

Details to be confirmed, but the rough plan is as follows:
- Date : 6th October 2026 at the Boot & Flogger, assuming they have availability that day.
- What : Fonseca vs Niepoort dual vertical
- Years : TBD, but expected to be at least 55-77 (55, 60, 63, 66, 70, 75, 77)

In 2012 I organised a tasting of Fonseca vs Warre, a '55-'85 double-vertical. While some thought Fonseca might run away with it, it was much closer than many expected and I thoroughly enjoyed comparing the mature ports of two of my favourite producers across very good years.

More than a decade on, and following creation of "the book", I looked back at these vintages and found that across the 55-77 range in particular, Niepoort and Fonseca seem to take most of the top spots for me - so I thought it would be fun to revisit the double-vertical idea with these two producers across a range of mature vintages.

A large number of us will have many of the '60-'77 Fonseca vintages; I suspect much less availability of pre-'70 Niepoort. Addition of older vintages may be unlikely, as prior to '55 I believe the previous vintages fully declared by both would be '45 and then '27. To ensure we have bottle-pairs, priority will be given to people offering bottles that allow us to include additional vintages/pairs in this range or earlier (e.g. if you're the only person with a Niepoort '66 then you're prioritised). Otherwise bottles will generally be selected looking for best-condition.

Dependent on numbers, and assuming no addition of earlier vintages, I may also consider the following:
- We could add later vintages (80, 83, 85 were declared by both) but assuming we have all of the 55-77 from both producers above then we already have 14 bottles.
- We could allow both dumpy and standard-bottled Niepoort '70, but that might arguably give an unfair advantage (two bottles vs one for Ni vs F).
- We could potentially allow magnums if we had them for both vintages (either in addition, or instead of, standard bottle); likely just 70 & 77 if at all.
Personally my favoured option would be the addition of the magnums (rather than the younger vintages) but this all depends on what we have between us.

Let me know if interested, and what you could offer (by PM/email or post as you prefer).

[forest26]

Yes please

[CPR 1]

Yes please

[flash_uk]

Oh yes please!

I could offer single bottles for F70, F77, Ni77. F70 in magnum.

[NigelM]

Oh yes please please!

[idj123]

I’m in!

[idj123]

I have Ni 60 and 63 but will need to check condition. Ni66 is as rare as hen’s teeth.

[JohnDavidFrance]

Count me in if there is space

[/2alph]

Count me in. Axel Probst please too.

[JohnDavidFrance]

Count me in if there is space

I have some estate bottles from Santo Antonio? Although not labelled as Fonseca it's owned/operated by them? Could even even bring one just as a brucy bonus?

[nac]

Yes please.

[hadge]

yes please

[winesecretary]

Yes please

[NigelM]

I have F63, rare as Hens feathers!

I would like to try and source a rarer Ni if possible. Where am I gonna find that 66?

[Bertie3000]

Yes please. Will need to confirm what I have later.

[JohnDavidFrance]

I have Fonseca 66,70,77,88 (though i was trying to save the 88 )

[jdaw1]

Am I too late? If not, yes please. If I am, reserves.

[Alex Bridgeman]

If I’ve counted correctly, I’d be 15th on the list.

[winesecretary]

I am fairly certain, Alex, that your stocks will see you promoted…