TNR: Fonseca VP 1983

Apotheca · Post by **Apotheca** » Mon Jan 30, 2006 1:30 pm

I am thinking in buying a bottle or 2 of the 1983 Fonseca VP. Have any of you tasted this port? Would appreciate comments and/or tasting notes. Thanks!

Mike Kerr · Post by **Mike Kerr** » Mon Jan 30, 2006 2:05 pm

Oyvind, if you go back to the FTLOP home page, there is a Tasting Notes link on the left side of the page which contains Roy's TNs for various vintages and producers. Here's Roy's TN:

1983 - Fonseca Vintage Port : Well this bottle showed quite well and better than any recent bottles of the æ83. I decanted it at noon and poured around 9 p.m. There were just two couples and the bottle went very fast. It is showing some much darker color than other bottles in recent times which were a pale to medium ruby. This showed far more extraction of color, which in a VP, does matter. The Fonseca showed great notes of coffee, milk chocolate, plums and figs. It had a very minor touch of alcohol but it did not distract me at all. The body was somewhat thin, let's call it medium bodied, but not a full throttle Fonseca by any stretch. It shows great palate presence and although the berry fruit here is hard to pin down, it is quite tasty and the tannins are mostly resolved and even keeled. Not a big or powerful VP, but in balance and showing that it has overcome an awkward stage that was present over the past five years. Will this improve? I am not sure. Somewhat of an enigma ... still. There is lots of tongue smothering acidity here and a better and longer finish than in recent bottles. 93

Mike.

Apotheca · Post by **Apotheca** » Mon Jan 30, 2006 2:14 pm

Hi Mike

Thanks for the help. I think I need to check my eyes - for I was checking Roy's notes before posting, and I didn't see the Fonseca note.

Thanks again for the help!