FONSECA

2003

IN STOCK
Origin Portugal, Port
District Vintage Port
ABV 20.5%

Almost certainly the star wine of the vintage (although Taylor and Noval sail very close by in my opinion). Hugely ripe with tremendous intensity of rich figs and dark chocolate, powerful and yet elegant too, this is a wine built for the long haul. Classic vintage port at its very best. L&S (Jun 2005)

*Case price discount: Mix any 12 bottles of wine (or 9 litre equivalent) or 6 bottles of Champagne, Spirits, Sweet Wine or Fortified (4.5 litres) to get the discounted 'case price' for each bottle.

This nose seems to have closed down since its initial exuberant showing. But it does have that ripe black fruit, crème de menthe, blueberry, orange liqueur and a touch of walnut developing with aeration. The palate is full-bodied, sinewy, lithe on the entry with saturated blackberry, damson and fig flavours on the front and then sexy liquorices infused cherry on the finish. Lovely focus, spicy and vivacious towards the finish. Excellent. Drink 2025-2050+ Rating: 97+ Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Jun 2009)

Sporting an opaque, black-colored robe with dark purple trim, the 2003 Fonseca Vintage Port exhibits a nose of profound depth. Its sweet black mass of dark fruit and spice aromas leads to a character of immense depth, richness, and weight. Full-bodied, viscous, and almost impenetrable, this dense, backward port is powerful and exceptionally long in the finish. Possibly the most masculine Fonseca I've ever encountered, it coats the taster's palate with licorice, jammy black fruits, and notes of chocolate that last for over a minute. This blockbuster will require at least three decades to fully blossom. Anticipated maturity: 2035-2060 Rating: 96 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate, www.RobertParker.com (Jun 2007)

Very dark purplish crimson. Quite volatile. Mouth-filling, spreads across the palate in a very convincing way. Lots of dry tannin (in stark contract to 29 served just before it!). All the ingredients here. Good, dry finish yet a very eloquent testament to 2003’s ripeness. Later note: Very big, beef extract. Plus lots of ripe fruit and quite noticeable acidity. Fine tannins. Everything is here. Very long. Rating: 18.5 Jancis Robinson OBE MW - www.JancisRobinson.com (Jun 2005)

Fonseca

Manuel Pedro Guimaraens bought out the Fonseca family's share of Fonseca & Monteiro in 1822, sold with the proviso that the Company would always bear the Fonseca name, and the Guimaraens family have controlled Fonseca ever since, even after absorbtion by Taylors, Fladgate & Yeatman in 1948. Not long after taking control of the Company, due to his support of the deposed King Pedro IV, Manuel was forced to flee Portugal (allegedly in an empty wine barrel) and settled in London, from where Fonseca was run until 1927 when the Guimaraens family returned to Portugal. David Guimaraens is the winemaker today, not only at Fonseca but Taylors too. In recent years especially, Fonseca and Taylors have elevated themselves clearly above their rivals for the sheer quality and prestige of their Vintage Ports.

This wine isn't currently part of a mixed case, but you can always browse our full selection of mixed cases here.
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