#9: What is your favorite vintage of Fonseca VP?

[Roy Hersh]

I have a good friend who has a stash of these that he bought some years ago for a very reasonable price. I am not sure if I've had this more than once or twice and would like a refresher class.

[Todd Pettinger]

A marvelous wine was the Fonseca Guimarens 76. Yes, 76 !
About 6 years ago, many bottles were a great pleasure, at the peak.
If someone is lucky enough t come across one, just pull the cork. Not big, but
suculent, wonderful refined and elegamt Fonseca's better characteristics.

Guilherme

Oh goodie... I just acquired my very first bottle of this... and at the price I paid, likely the last. I am certain to enjoy it from the sounds of your description!

Todd

[Roy Hersh]

Good to see Richard took care of you Todd.

[guilherme]

Just give it a rest, tune the occasion and them pull the cork.
Not heavy, not big. Great balance, velvety, ripe fruit, dried fruit,
mushroons, lingering, enticing, full, fresh. Hope it's holding. Had it
last time many years ago but the taste is still quite vivid in the memory.

Guilherme

[Todd Pettinger]

Good to see Richard took care of you Todd.

He contacted me the other night because I missed his posting... When I return from my trip to Boston he has promised to take care of me for much less than what the auction price was that I paid. You can never have too many of your birth-year Ports I figure!

[Roy Hersh]

Heresy on a Port Forum (and I apologize in advance for this departure!), but I would suggest possibly looking into some MSR German Rieslings from your birth year. I've had a bazillion and although I much prefer the acidity levels with the vast majority of 1971s, some '76s still show beautifully. I'd be happy to open one for you when you come down here. I just opened a 1976 Suduiraut two weekends ago for my friends Blair and Bronwyn the night before our big tasting here. It was the best bottle of the last six I opened, giving me hope that others might still show so well. It was the oldest Sauternes they had ever tried. I'll open one in your presence one day, if you'll remind me.

[SEAN C.]

My favorite hands down is the 1948 ..Thankfully I purchased several bottles of '48 seven years ago..because I haven't seen many since!
Second favorite is the 1963 followed by the 1970.

[Kris Henderson]

An easy choice for me: 1985

[Roy Hersh]

It will be interesting to see if any opinion's change after this weekend, as this shipper will be well represented!

[Glenn E.]

I had no opinion when this thread was first started - I'd tasted no Fonseca at that point.

Right now, though, I'd have to say my favorite is the 1963. But I'll be tasting my first 1985 this weekend, and probably several others, so we'll see if the '63 can keep its title.

[Derek T.]

I'm not sure what you guys will be quaffing this weekend but my wish list of Fonsecas to drink today would be:

1966
1963
1970
1977
1985

...in that order, but preferably all together

[Roy Hersh]

Derek,

We'll be consuming the following vintages of Fonseca this weekend:

1970
1977
1985
1994

[Derek T.]

Unfortunately, I will only be having the 1970 :help:

Feel free to send me samples of the others by air mail

[Roy Hersh]

OK, so has anybody changed their minds after tasting the stunning Fonseca's?

[Glenn E.]

Coming back to this topic (due to the front page profile link), I'd have to say that no my choice hasn't changed. The lineup we had at the Port Gala was fantastic ('70, '77, '85, '94), but none of them could top the 1963 for me.

I need to try a '66 some time... sounds like that one might give the '63 a run for its money. I'd love to try the older legends some day, too, but those are likely out of reach for me unless I get lucky at a tasting some day.

[Moses Botbol]

Well, I am revisiting this thread too, and I am going with '66 and '70 as my two favourite Post War Fonsecas. '63 is also great, and I had a couple from the 50's that were awesome, but have a foggy memory on them cite any details.

Fonseca has too many excellent vintages and it's really hard to settle on any particular one or even top three.