Fonseca 1977 Vintage Port Questions

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

Esteemed Ladies and Gentlemen,

Long time lurker on this forum but this is my first time posting.

I have recently acquired two bottles of Fonseca 1977 vintage port. I noticed some peculiarities between the two bottles.

1- Different labels: "Fonseca's Finest 1977" versus "Fonseca's 1977". I am more familiar with the "Fonseca's Finest 1977" version of the label but the "Fonseca's 1977" version features prominently on the Fonseca website for the 1977 vintage. Why are the labels different?
http://fonseca.pt/en/port/vintage-port/fonseca/1977/

2- Different Selo de Garantia letter codes: "TF 15" versus "HO 01". My understanding of the Selo de Garantia producer codes are that each producer has its own Selo de Garantia two letter code. Why is the two letter code different beween the two bottles when the producer is Fonseca?

3- The Selo de Garantia is under the capsule in on one bottle but over the capsule on the other bottle. Is there any reasoning why Selo de Garantia are under versus over the capsules?

I've include pictures for reference.

Thank you for your help.

[Glenn E.]

1- Different labels: "Fonseca's Finest 1977" versus "Fonseca's 1977". I am more familiar with the "Fonseca's Finest 1977" version of the label but the "Fonseca's 1977" version features prominently on the Fonseca website for the 1977 vintage. Why are the labels different?
http://fonseca.pt/en/port/vintage-port/fonseca/1977/

2- Different Selo de Garantia letter codes: "TF 15" versus "HO 01". My understanding of the Selo de Garantia producer codes are that each producer has its own Selo de Garantia two letter code. Why is the two letter code different beween the two bottles when the producer is Fonseca?

3- The Selo de Garantia is under the capsule in on one bottle but over the capsule on the other bottle. Is there any reasoning why Selo de Garantia are under versus over the capsules?

Hi Lucius,

Nothing to worry about, those both look like perfectly normal bottles to me.

1. Back in those days, producers seemed to use many different labels for no real reason. Probably a different intern ordered them printed and changed them very slightly, or something equally uninteresting. I have had bottles of both and can probably add at least one more to your collection of different labels... it wouldn't surprise me if there are 4 or 5 different, but all perfectly legitimate, labels that were used for that Port.

2. The selo letter codes are not producer specific, but might often seem to be because they're assigned in blocks. So a producer would use a block of codes, potentially for quite some time, before needing to get another block assigned to them. But a block of codes might also run out in the middle of a bottling run, so a new block is started during the run. Ironically, since selos are supposed to be proof of product, it is extremely difficult to do a reverse lookup to find out anything about the Port in question because of the aforementioned block assignments to producers. A producer might bottle a run of one Port, then continue with some other Port using the same or a similar block of codes, then switch back, etc. Unless the producer kept immaculate records, there very little way to use those codes for anything from the consumer's point of view.

3. This can happen for many reasons. One of the more common ones is when a bottle has been kept in the lodge as a "shiner" and then labeled and shipped later. The capsule may (or may not) have already been applied in that case, so the selo is simply glued over the top. Shiners in the lodge generally do not have the selo - or a label - already attached because that's just a recipe for it to get damaged while in storage.

[Eric Menchen]

3. This can happen for many reasons. One of the more common ones is when a bottle has been kept in the lodge as a "shiner" and then labeled and shipped later. The capsule may (or may not) have already been applied in that case, so the selo is simply glued over the top. Shiners in the lodge generally do not have the selo - or a label - already attached because that's just a recipe for it to get damaged while in storage.

I really think this last point by Glenn could be to the crux of all your questions. These two bottles, while from the same vintage, were likely released from the lodge at different times, and thus labelled at different times.

Another factor in some cases, but not so applicable here since both these appear to have been shipped to the UK from Portugal, different labels will be made for different markets.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

Thank you gentlemen for your help in answering my questions.

Have a happy and healthy holiday season and new year.

[Andy Velebil]

They were released at different times, hence the different labels and Selos. Same Port, so don’t worry.

[John Pluta]

I was never able to buy cases of Port like some folks, but I have been able to acquire a few bottles here and there. I still have one left.