1970 Fonseca

[Alex Bridgeman]

Very clear, beautiful red, 70% opaque. Menthol and sweet cherries on the nose. Smooth and creamy texture; smooth flavour with rich tannins and big fruit. Some tannin, but slightly more acidity would be ideal. The aftertaste of cherries, and then a long finish of chocolate on the gums. A lovely wine, but one which still needs some more time to reach peak. 92/100. Drunk 26 September 2010.

[jdaw1]

In The Douro Valley with Friends, Harvest 2010:

• Friday 24 September 2010
  • 1960 Fonseca (α alpha);
  • 1963 Graham (β beta);
  • 1963 Taylor (γ gamma);
  • 1977 Graham (tregnum) (δ delta);
• Saturday 25 September 2010
  • 1970 Niepoort (η eta);
  • 1977 Gould Campbell (θ theta);
  • 1970 Warre (ι iota);
  • 1960 Dow (κ kappa);
  • 1970 Dow (λ lambda);
  • 1958 Warre (μ mu);
  • 1934 Warre (ν nu);
• Sunday 26 September 2010
  • 1963 Fonseca (Ï„ tau);
  • 1966 Fonseca (Ï… upsilon);
  • 1970 Fonseca (φ phi);
  • 1977 Fonseca (χ chi);
  • 1994 Vesuvio (ψ psi);
• Monday 27 September 2010
  • 1992 Quevedo colheita (а a);
  • 1994 Quevedo colheita (б be);
  • 1996 Quevedo colheita (в ve);
  • 2000 Quevedo colheita (г ge);
  • 2004 Quevedo LBV (д de);
  • 2008 Quevedo Quinta Vale D’Agodinho (е ie);
  • 1970 Offley Boa Vista.

[jdaw1]

F70: the second darkest, behind the F66. Muted nose, a voice suggesting ‟varnish”. Some acidity. Much lighter than the F63. Long red cherry no plum the cherry being very Sandeman-like. Tip-of-tongue acidity a bit strong. Lots of tannin.

Voted second by AHB and by me, first by all others, so capturing the gold.