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For a wine tasting next weekend I planned to bring a bottle of Fonseca 1985. The tasters are not really that Port minded, so I like this port to perform as good as possible. But I should travel (30 min) with the bottle 5 hours in advance of the taste moment... Under assumption that it is not possible to travel with an 'open decanter'. What should I do?

a) Open and decant at the tasting, so 5 hours in the decanter
b) Open and double-decant (back in the bottle) X hours in advance and travel with the previously opened bottle
c) Otherwise

in case b) please suggest an ideal X
in case c) please suggest an alternative procedure

So please help me...

Santé,
Joost

I think I had a dog tag attached to one of the bottles of F 85 I had and I remember reading Fonseca recommended 3 hours of open decant. But that was when the wine was released.

If your guests like soft but noticeable tannins, I'd say splash decant for sediment is good enough.

We've had this open for 4 hours at another tasting and it was still fantastic but slightly softer and a bit more muted.

Double-decant just before departure, which would therefore give about six hours between decant and taste.

Hi Joost,

Good choice! Fonseca 1985 can easily do with some hours in a decanter. So double-decant before you leave and claim one of the decanters at the tasting for the port. After 5-6 hours it should be fine. Have fun and enjoy!

Cheers,
Ronald

5-6 hours? I've heard that it takes more like 10-12 to properly decant this beast.

Thanks for all the advices...

I shall double decant just before leaving and I'll decant again at arrival...

Santé,
Joost

I'd go for choice "A".

Opened the bottle about an hour before leaving. Had some problems with the cork ,it wouldn't come out!!!!

But the wine triple decanted (at arrival decanted in the final caraffe) showed up really great. Everybody liked it, and for most it was the best Port ever!!!

Santé,
Joost

Good to hear. It's one of my favourite ports, and when it shows great, it shows truly great.

BTW, what was the theme of the tasting?

Hi Ronnie,

The theme was: Soldera Case Basse Vertical (98-99-00-01) - Brunello di Montalcino

And aside we tasted:
- Barolo 1957 - Marchesi di Barolo
- Chianti Classico Riserva Il Poggio Monsanto 1971
- Super tuscan Flacchianello 1990
- Brunello 1997 Chiacci
- Pegau 1998 Chateauneuf
- Valdicava 2004 Brunello
- Pure 2004 Barroche
- Clos Monlleo 2000 Priorat Sangenis i Vaque
- A Ribera del Duero not remembering the name!
- And of course the F85...

With some nice Italian food, good company, for the best way spending my Sunday...
Every wine showed as good as it could be with Case Basse 1999 as the winner, followed by the 2001 and Poggio 1971

Santé,
Joost

Sounds like a grreat Sunday.

Joost wrote:Hi Ronnie,

The theme was: Soldera Case Basse Vertical (98-99-00-01) - Brunello di Montalcino

And aside we tasted:
- Barolo 1957 - Marchesi di Barolo
- Chianti Classico Riserva Il Poggio Monsanto 1971
- Super tuscan Flacchianello 1990
- Brunello 1997 Chiacci
- Pegau 1998 Chateauneuf
- Valdicava 2004 Brunello
- Pure 2004 Barroche
- Clos Monlleo 2000 Priorat Sangenis i Vaque
- A Ribera del Duero not remembering the name!
- And of course the F85...

With some nice Italian food, good company, for the best way spending my Sunday...
Every wine showed as good as it could be with Case Basse 1999 as the winner, followed by the 2001 and Poggio 1971

Santé,
Joost

Wow, some good wines there. Must've been fun indeed.

indeed and a great port to stand up to all those heavy hitting dry's

I love the 1990 Flaccianello and have a couple left and a half case of the 1997s too.

The F85 is a fantastic wine and we had a great showing of it last weekend too. It is still so very young and personally, I prefer much more decant time for this puppy. If I am not mistaken, Alex B. has recommended 24 hours with this particular VP and said it was better the 2nd day.