Fonseca 1963 Neck Note
Posted: 21:27 Sun 01 Mar 2009
As posted in a different thread, I have stood upright a bottle of Fonseca 1963 hopefully, with which to celebrate the safe arrival of Julian's second child. Attached to the bottle was a small card, about 4 x 2 inches and folded in half. On the inside of the card was written the following, from a quaintly bygone era:
Alex
This is an exact copy of the text of the leaflet - errors and particular phrasing included. I love the romance of the thought that in 1963, connoisseurs of vintage port were still enjoying bottles of 1868 and 1896 Fonseca - if only!What is Vintage Port?
Vintage Port is the supreme example of port wine and is declared only in a year of exceptional quality.
Years such as 1868, 1896, 1912, 1922, 1948 and 1963 are renowned among connoisseurs of vintage port.
The young port is bottled after two years once the shipper is certain that the wine will develop well in bottle.
After a minimum of twelve years this superb wine becomes ready for drinking, and will last for up to twenty five years - sometimes longer. Evin in a vintage year only a very small quantity of the total is declared.
To appreciate vintage port at its best one should stand the bottle up 24 hours before opening sothat the natural deposit can settle on the bottom.
4 hours before serving, the bottle should be decanted with great care, and the decanter-stopper left off for 2 hours so the wine can breath, thus expending the bouquet. Preferably, vintage port should be enjoyed at the end of the meal or during the evening, and it is usual not to smoke until after the first glass. Vintage port is one of the greatest of all wines and its appreciation is a cultural joy.
Guimaraens, Vinhos, S.A.R.L.
Oporto
Alex
