Multi: 2000 Graham's & 2000 Fonseca Vintage Port

[David M. Bueker]

Beth Sheligo hosted a "dark dessert wines" tasting last Friday, and my contribution ot the evening was a bottles each of the 2000 Graham's and 2000 Fonseca vintage port.

The tasting began at 7:30 PM, the Ports were not served until after 9, and I had opened them at about 4:30. I thought about double decanting and should have, but ultimately the results were quite fine (on night two).

On the first night both showed quite spirity, but the Graham's more so than the Fonseca. A few minutes of swirling in the glass helped the Fonseca settle down into that lovely velvet robe of fruit (with the bed of spikes underneath) that I remembered from my last taste 3 years ago. The Graham's was quite spirity until it had 30 minutes in the glass when it took on a more forward, monolithic fruitiness and even bolder tannins. Tons of potential in both but very little pleasure. About 1/3 of each 375 ml was left, so I corked them up and we did not revisit until over 24 hours had passed.

Night two brought a difference that I could not have imagined. Both wines had shed their spiritous nature and settled in to a youthful, but extraordinarily delicious state. The Graham's was spicier, with more of a macerated blackberry fruit character, while the Fonseca had a complex array of dark red and black fruit, sweet herbs and vanilla that reminded me why I originally thought a few years ago that I could drink it with a meal rahter than as a finishing Port. There was absolutely no hint that these wines had been open for nearly 30 hours, and if I had to guess I would say that half bottles need at least 15 more years and fulls at least 30. Majestic and soul satisfying Ports.

[Andy Velebil]

David,

Welcome to the forum, its great to have you here. Thanks for the TN's, it always good to hear how these younglings are coming along.

[David M. Bueker]

Hi Andy,

I actually wasn't planning on opening these. I had thought of doing '77 Warre or '91 Graham, but since we were taking the wine on a 4 hour car journey with virtually no time to rest before opening I thought a younger wine would show better. Worked out well - at least after 30 hours.

[Roy Hersh]

David,

It is great to have you here, even if it is just for a casual visit. Much appreciated and very solid TNs, so thanks!

I think you made a very good decision to bring the pairing of 2000 VPs as seeing them side-by-side is so educational to be able to compare and contrast the styles. Clearly, as you have found, these are incredibly young and need lots of time in decanter ... and will need a few decades before they come into their prime drinking windows. But as you found, they can certainly be enjoyed today as well.

I hope you will come back here and visit us on occasion!

[David M. Bueker]

Thank you for the warm welcome. I really enjoy drinking Port, so I hope to spend a little of my (meager) free time around here. Perhaps it will spur me to try some things I have been hiding in the cellar, great, good and interesting.