1977 Fonseca
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Tasting notes
Mid-deep tawny. A fair amount of truffle development, with dried herb complexity and dried black fruit beneath. On the palate, still plenty of fruit depth and energy, showing a more youthful side. Good length too. Hard to judge this, as the nose is showing significant development, while the palate is giving a lot more. (TJ)
Critic scores
Average Score
James Suckling
Wine Spectator
More reviews and scores
Vintage Port doesn't seem like the right wine in the middle of the summer but I had an Amarone producer for dinner the other night in Tuscany and he had never drunk a wine from his birth year. He was lucky enough to have been born in 1977 - a great Port year! I found a bottle of 1977 Fonseca in my cellar - probably my last. It was absolutely gorgeous. I gave this fortified wine a perfect score in its youth and I think it has finally evolved into its perfection as a mature vintage Port. Here is the tasting note. 1977 Fonseca Vintage Port: This is in total balance now with such harmony. What amazing aromas of berry and flowers. Full and sweet, the tannins are complete dissolved. The fruit is perfect. This goes on for minutes. Drink now. But it will go forever.
I found a bottle of 1977 Fonseca in my cellar - probably my last. It was absolutely gorgeous. I gave this fortified wine a perfect score in its youth and I think it has finally evolved into its perfection as a mature vintage Port... This is in total balance now with such harmony. What amazing aromas of berry and flowers. Full and sweet, the tannins are complete dissolved. The fruit is perfect. This goes on for minutes.
Evolving red but not the most subtle to look at. Very sweet and almost minty/eucalypt. Very sweet start, almost syrupy, with some metallic spine to it that stops it being a great pleasure to drink. Still extremely tannic, and slightly hollow. I sometimes wonder whether I have a gene that prevents me from reading Fonseca vintage port. (JR)