NV Fonseca Crusted 2004

[Alex Bridgeman]

An emergency decant, tasted after one hour. A short, unbranded cork and a modest amount of sediment of the purple/red grape skin variety. An impenetrable red colour with a purple edge. Nose of dust and blackcurrants. Smooth entry, dry but ripe tannic grip but lots of sweet ripe fruit. Initially nicely balanced but there are some harsh tones in the mid palate although these do soften to let floods of fruit through. The aftertaste is jammy, warming and long lasting, giving a sweet fruit jelly flavour that lasts a long time and leaves the cheeks feeling dry but the tongue remembering the fruit. While thoroughly enjoyable, if judged as a vintage port I would rank this as a weak example, but one which will probably improve with 10 years to mature in the bottle so I will give this 1/2 or 85/100.

[Axel P]

Muito interessante.

I will be getting a case in May.

Axel