Fonseca - Vintage Porto 2003 (750ml)
Fine deep color with brick red edge. Good depth of nose, sweet, some spirit on the nose, rich, soft touches of dark chocolate and cherry (cherry tomato). Harmonious, elegant wine, some fine structure with exciting hints of spice and mint, very focused fruit, soft. A delightful Vintage Port now with good tannins to take it to old age. Appears softer than usual. Closing nose. Big fruit, blackcurrant and blackberry, real intense jams with cocoa notes and firm yet silky tannins. Powerful Vintage Port. Fine ripe fruit, good expression, cherry, a charming character.
Fonseca Description
Fonseca’s three vineyards—Quinta do Panascal, Quinta de Cruzeiro and Quinta de Santo António—all form the backbone of the famous Fonseca Vintage Portos, produced only in vintages that are “declared” as being of the highest quality. Fonseca is recognized across the Douro as a leader of viticultural practices for Porto and has spearheaded development of organic and sustainable programs across the region. The fruit for Fonseca’s Vintage Portos is trod by foot in granite lagares on the estate. The wine is aged for two years in oak before being bottled unfiltered.
James Suckling: 97 Points
Lots of intensity on the nose of blackberries, dried fruits, bark, mushroom and crushed stone. Full-bodied, medium-sweet with chewy velvety tannins. Just a baby now with so much to go, but approachable now at almost 20 years of age.
Vinous: 97 Points
Saturated deep ruby. Brooding, reticent nose of cassis and kirsch; there's nothing cooked about this one! Then massive, sweet and super rich in the mouth; explodes with exotic ripeness. Intriguing note of graphite. This coats every nook and cranny of the palate and clings and builds on the back end ina way that no other wine of this vintage can match. Huge, sexy, and wonderfully lush Fonseca, built for the long haul. As impressive as the best 2000 and, along with the Quinta do Noval Nacional, is an early candidate for port of the 2003 vintage.
Wine Advocate: 97 Points
This nose seems to have closed down since its initial exuberant showing. But it does have that ripe black fruit, creme 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.
Wine Enthusiast: 97 Points
Fonseca vintage Ports are always among the most attractive and long-lived. This 2003 conforms magnificently to that model. It is structured, rich, powerful and opulent. There are cassis and black fig flavors, as well as sweet tannins. It is delicious already, and will remain delicious throughout its long life.
Wine Spectator: 94 Points
This is hitting its stride now, with an alluring set of warmed ganache, toasted black sesame, plum cake and canned brown bread notes leading the way. Shows a black treacle hint, along with succulence and brambly grip on the back end, giving this a distinctive persona. Tasted twice, with consistent notes.
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