1985 Fonseca

[jdaw1]

JDAW’s other brother-in-law wanted to attend a tasting, so an emergency was declared, and held on Monday 8th February 2016 at the Boot & Flogger.

I do love an Emergency!

Links:

• Review of the evening as a whole;
• 1960 Butler Nephew (AHB);
• 1963 Croft (MPM);
• 1963 Sandeman (SCD);
• 1963 Martinez (WPS);
• 1970 Fonseca (CPR);
• 1972 Offley Boa Vista (DRT);
• 1977 Cockburn (DRT);
• 1977 Fonseca (PW);
• 1985 Fonseca (JDAW/BKS);
• 1987 Quinta do Noval Nacional (JDAW/BKS);
• 1987 Graham Quinta dos Malvedos (JDAW/BKS);
• 1997 Dow (GLHBD);
• Food order;
• Placemats (and parameters by which made);
• Planning and arrangements.

[jdaw1]

Decanted 7pm Sunday. I’ve adopted the Wolfgang habit of loosening the cork by pushing it in a few millimetres, before using the corkscrew. Well, it went all the way, and was bagged out. Moving on, a very minuscule sample was the colour of F85, the palate being closed with sweet very black plums. So far, so good.

[flash_uk]

75% opacity, very dark red. Full mouthfeel, chocolate. F85 never disappoints.

[Alex Bridgeman]

Deep red and opaque at the centre. Lively on the nose, with lots of complexity and intense rhubarb and green apples. Hesitant on entry with gentle development leading to a huge mouthful of fruit, charcoal, blueberries and sweet juniper. Fruit driven aftertaste with a big finish. This is very impressive port with a long future ahead of it. 94/100. 08-Feb-16. Decanted 25½ hours.

[Doggett]

F85 As always, this was a very fine port and a pleasure to enjoy again. Deep in colour and full of rich berry fruits. It had more balance and smoothness than the F77 to me and so shaded it on the night. Once again a port with a wonderful few years in front of it, to hopefully enjoy and taste many times.
91/92 Points

[jdaw1]

F85. Sketchy notes suggest that I wasn’t a fan of this F85. “Stewed? TCA? Dark plum.”