The Fonseca 2011 is typically more forthcoming on the nose compared to the bashful Croft: a strident bouquet with lifted scents of freshly picked blackberries, kirsch, crushed stone and a dash of Hoi Sin and oyster sauce. It is very well-defined, very focused and direct. The palate is silky smooth with not a rough edge in sight, though not a typically voluptuous Fonseca because of the keen thread of acidity and the structure that lends this mighty Port wonderful backbone. A slight viscosity on the finish lacquers the tongue and indicates a core of sweet fruit is ticking away underneath that will surely explode several years after bottling. A tincture of salted licorice on the aftertaste is very attractive. This will turn out to become an outstanding Fonseca, the growing season taming its exuberance with spectacular results. So much potential, but just 6,000 cases were produced. Tasted May 2013.
Very grapy and leafy with hints of spices on the nose. Full body, medium sweet with fine, chewy tannins. Powerful, long finish with nuts and shaved chocolate. This young Fonseca has grip. 6,000 cases produced of this foot-trodden wine. Try in 2022.
The nose is perfumed floral with violets and rock roses all backed by hints of pine needles and
cedar wood. The palate has depth of flavour rich and succulent fruit lots of ripe sweet black
fruits deep profound and brooding yet there is a lighter feel at the back an elegant charm and a
lovely long flowing finish.
An amazingly dense inky black colour with a thick viscous texture clinging to the glass. A packed nose of black fruits and a heady waft of smoky tarmac, liquorice, eucalyptus and Christmas cake.
Wonderfully concentrated on the palate, this is huge, juicy, rich, intense, rounded, expansive, complex, layered, warm and generous. Layers of blackcurrant, black cherry, dark chocolate, fig and all-spice. This is powerful stuff and yet with a precise purity and plushness and all its components in the correct place. Fonseca ports have a characteristically "masculine" style and this wine is no exception and yet there is less fire and more finesse than in some other Fonseca vintages. Reminiscent of the great 1994 this is a giant of a wine and an undoubted star of the vintage. Great stuff.
Heady, opulent nose. Completely enveloping, Smells as though there is going to be the most fabulous texture. Wow! All stops pulled out for this one. It's all absolutely gorgeous intensity of sweet fruit on the front palate and then gradually the schist and structure reveal themselves. This is really wonderful stuff. So tempting to sip it decades before it is ready. Drink 2035 - 2080.