1963 Fonseca Vintage Port

[Bill Spohn]

1963 Fonseca Port – opened several hours a head and double decanted. Far deeper colour than many 63s currently show. Nose seemed a snitch warm to start with but either it changed or I accommodated and after a bit it seemed just right, showing red fruit, spice and tarry caramel components. In the mouth it was….damn near perfect! Layers followed layer of complexity and the length was monumental. This is the best Port I’ve tasted since the 1927 Taylors a few years ago. I know there have been differing reviews of this wine, not at all surprising given age and varying cellar conditions, but this bottle was superb – Port doesn’t normally get much better than this. I hope the other bottles show the same!

The first bottle of a wine I had obtained from London 20 years before. It had never been labelled, but shipped straight from the bins with the cork branded and the top of the cork marked with the vintage, and the obligatory splash of white paint to guide cellaring position.