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At Bonham’s on 18 February 2016 was sold most of a pipe of Fonseca 1963, not moved since original purchase (lots 324 to 343).

So, on Wednesday 15th June 2016, we gathered in the Boot & Flogger to compare six of these, which were joined by a selection of other English-bottled Vintage Ports.

Links:

• Review of the evening as a whole;
• The six Fonseca 1963s:
  • 1963 Fonseca, α = alpha;
  • 1963 Fonseca, β = beta;
  • 1963 Fonseca, γ = gamma;
  • 1963 Fonseca, δ = delta;
  • 1963 Fonseca, ε = epsilon;
  • 1963 Fonseca, ζ = zeta;
• The other English-bottled Vintage Ports:
  • 1955 Mackenzie;
  • 1963 Berry Bros & Rudd;
  • 1963 Martinez;
  • 1963 Warre;
  • 1970 Fonseca;
  • 1970 Warre;
  • 1970 Smith Woodhouse;
• And one colheita:
  • 1937 Warre colheita;
• Food order.
• Placemats;
• Planning and arrangements.

30% opacity, mature red. Nose off, vegetal, smelly cabbage.

One of the 36 bottles sourced from the pipe sold at Bonhams in February 2016, which had been bottled and stored under identical conditions. 6 bottles with the same fill (top shoulder) were opened and tasted together to investigate the extent of bottle variation in mature port.

Bottle 3: Clean and attractive appearance with the colour and density being very similar to the other bottles tasted allongside this one. The nose is unattractive, being dominated by bottle stink which persists in the glass even when rested for 90 minutes. The sulphurous flavours dominate the palate; the gentle tannins support the structure of the wine and the overall impression is of baked or stewed fruit in a light syrup. Spoiled by the bottle stink. 80/100. 15-Jun-16. Deacnted 3½ hours.