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Fonseca 2003

RegionPort
Subregion Portugal > Port
ColourRed
TypeFortified

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Tasting Notes

This nose seems to have closed down since its initial exuberant showing. But it does have that ripe black fruit, creme de menthe, blueberry, orange liqueur and a touch of walnut developing with aeration. The palate is full-bodied, sinewy, lithe on the entry with saturated blackberry, damson and fig flavours on the front and then sexy liquorices infused cherry on the finish. Lovely focus, spicy and vivacious towards the finish. Excellent. Drink 2025-2050+ Tasted May 2009.

97+
Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, July 2009

Sporting an opaque, black-colored robe with dark purple trim, the 2003 Fonseca Vintage Port exhibits a nose of profound depth. Its sweet black mass of dark fruit and spice aromas leads to a character of immense depth, richness, and weight. Full-bodied, viscous, and almost impenetrable, this dense, backward port is powerful and exceptionally long in the finish. Possibly the most masculine Fonseca I've ever encountered, it coats the taster's palate with licorice, jammy black fruits, and notes of chocolate that last for over a minute. This blockbuster will require at least three decades to fully blossom.

96+
Pierre-Antoine Rovani, Wine Advocate (161), October 2005
95/100
James Suckling, Wine Spectator

Intense but obtuse. Beyond dark fruit and a few hints of violets, not much on the nose. Dark chocolate, savoury tones yet siren-esque rich fruit that holds enormous promise. (RH) Intense but obtuse. Beyond dark fruit and a few hints of violets, not much on the nose. Dark chocolate, savoury tones yet siren-esque rich fruit that holds enormous promise. Date tasted 24th Sept 08.

17.5+
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com (29 Jun 09), June 2009

Wild aromas, with flowers, blackberries and passion fruit. Full-bodied, massive on the palate. Medium-sweet. The finish goes on for minutes. A mega young Port. Fonseca. What do you expect?

95/100
James Suckling, WineSpectator.com
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.