Run don't walk ...

[Roy Hersh]

I left 3 bottles on the shelf, so you can grab 'em!

PHENOMENAL JUICE AT A GREAT PRICE - RH

JOSE MARIA da FONSECA
20 Year Old Moscatel "Setbal" $29.99 - 375ml
650-343-0182

To my knowledge, JM d Fonseca has stopped producing the Roxo 20 year old and this is no longer that easy to find. I love this particular bottling and always buy more when possible. I did not want to be a hog and thought it would be fun to see who grabbed the remaining 3 or was kind enough to leave one for someone else.

[Eric Ifune]

I just saw this. It's evening now so I'll have to wait until morning to call.
Which shop is this?

[Andy Velebil]

I was lucky enough to get some of this at auction for a great price. It is really great juice and I've posted a TN about...let me find it.

here you go
http://www.fortheloveofport.com/ftlopfo ... hilit=roxo

[Eric Ifune]

Called this morning. Seemed I was too late. Oh well, other wines to buy.

[Roy Hersh]

I was wondering how this could still be around considering that JM de Fonseca had not produced the 20 year old Roxo, Moscatel de Setubal for the past couple of years. I figured at that price, what was to lose? I did verify it was the 20 year old by JM de Fonseca before my purchase. However, it is NOT the Roxo, but a new release of 20 year old juice by JM de Fonseca that is called, "Alambre" Aged 20 years, yada yada, bottled 2003.

Whereas the Moscatel Roxo grape name stands for "the color purple" which has a very low yield per vine, approximately 1 kilo. My "Last of the Mohegans" bottling of Roxo does not have a date of bottling on it or the box it came in and is listed as 18%. BTW, the great old Roxo was a 500 ml bottle.

The new Alambre, mistakenly is now in 375 ml bottles and has remained at 18% abv. Interestingly, whereas the Roxo was 100% pure with that one Moscatel variety, the Alambre is a blend of the Setubal Muscat grape plus (Setubal is the place where JM de Fonseca is located, on a lovely peninsula next to the town of Palmela if I remember correctly to my visit in 1994) Boal and Malvasia (which Malvasia we are not informed about). The youngest wine in the blend is actually 20 years old. So this is not an "average" of 20 years old, which is pretty interesting too.

I have invited the winemaker, Domingos Soares Franco to stop in and join this thread. I'd love to hear more about the difference between this new "20 year old" and the Roxo from a sytlistic standpoint and also why the Roxo production was stopped. I'd also think it fascinating to know where the Boal vines came from (I am guessing the isle of Madeira) and to also know specifically which Malvasia (Fina?) grape is being used in this cuvee. I hope he will get my email, as it is vacation month in Portugal.

I must commend the retailer for including a separate plastic bag which included a "T-stopper" cork for each of the six bottles I bought.

If the legendary winemaker Mr. Soares does join us, I will go into another entire topic for him to discuss too, but we'll first explore this one of course!

[Andy Velebil]

BTW, the great old Roxo was a 500 ml bottle.

That's good to know as this is the bottle size of the ones I have.

[Roy Hersh]

I just received word that Mr. Franco is on holiday. I'll have to be patient until his return.

[Eric Ifune]

I don't often see Setubal for sale anywhere other than the basic blends. Does anyone know a good retail outlet? Maybe I need to cruise online more often to find these sales.

[Roy Hersh]

Eric,

I typically find these type of offerings when receiving online retailer's emails. I'd have no time for meals if I spent time scouring for wines on line. As for the Jose Maria de Fonseca Moscatel de Setubal bottlings, they ARE rare and not much makes its way to the USA. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that Canada receives a similar allocation overall. They are only slightly easier to find at auction and in Portugal.

[Eric Ifune]

Next time I'm in Portugal, I'll need to spend a day just shopping. Hopefully the next Fortification trip. Is Lisbon a good place to shop? Maybe I'll need two shippers.

[Roy Hersh]

Lisbon has a handful of awesome wine shops. Prices are typically no bargain but Colheitas abound from ancient to 1980s bottlings. Madeiras are nowhere near as well priced as at shops in Funchal, but better than over here, in general. There are a few shops with simply incredible stocks of old Ports and even great stashes of Nacional.

[Todd Pettinger]

I just saw this bottle for offer in a local shop in Edmonton - for $49.99 Cdn.
Aiyiyiyiieeeeeeee

[Andy Velebil]

Todd,
it may be a bit more than here, but worth every penny. Its really good...run back there and get at least one bottle if you can

[Todd Pettinger]

Todd,
it may be a bit more than here, but worth every penny. Its really good...run back there and get at least one bottle if you can

Weeeeeeeeeelllllllllll.

Okay, twist my (drunk) rubber arm! :twisted:

[Andy Velebil]

Todd,
it may be a bit more than here, but worth every penny. Its really good...run back there and get at least one bottle if you can

Weeeeeeeeeelllllllllll.

Okay, twist my (drunk) rubber arm! :twisted:

now thats the spirit

[Todd Pettinger]

Todd,
it may be a bit more than here, but worth every penny. Its really good...run back there and get at least one bottle if you can

Weeeeeeeeeelllllllllll.

Okay, twist my (drunk) rubber arm! :twisted:

now thats the spirit

Well, picked it up... TN is here.