2001 Fonseca Quinta do Panascal Vintage Port

[Kurt Wieneke]

Decanted through cheesecloth at noon, a little sludgy sediment at bottom. Double decanted back into the bottle at six.

1st night - Nose has hints of black plums, licorice, and toffee. Upon swirling, a very viscous texture is noted along with deep reddish purple hue. On the palate, this is concentrated juice that has excellent balance between fruit, wood, spirit, and sweetness/tangyness.

2nd night - Similar profile on nose and palate. A bit sweeter and more cloying tonight, but you can tell it's pedigreed.

6th night - Complex mix of cement/lagare, tutti-frutti, and robitussin on the nose, followed by sweet attack then a deep core of cherry fruit and tobacco sets in at midpalate. Fine yet gripping tannins on the finish add a slight bitter note.

Overall I would give this excellent SQVP about 91 pts. Drinks well now, and I fear the fruit will not outlast the tannins in the long haul.