2000 & 2003 Fonseca Vintage Port

“The 2000 Fonseca continues to exude finesse and focus on the nose, with pure blackberry, juniper berries, licorice and a touch of sloes, perhaps as Adrian Bridge remarked, just beginning to close after ten years in bottle. The palate is underpinned by very fine tannins, a sensual, svelte texture with wonderful acidity. The harmony and symmetry is alluring, the finish precise and demonstrating the persistency to suggest a long future ahead. (NM)” (02/2013)

“This has matured, with flavors of red and black currant preserves that have stretched out, while bramble, anise, red and black tea and singed alder notes fill in through the plush yet well-defined finish. Gorgeous and on point now, but there's some serious latent depth here for those who want to push it further. *Collectible* (JM, Web-2021)” (03/2021)

“Fonseca produces its vintage Ports primarily from three distinct areas of the Cima Corgo sub-region: Cruzeiro and Santo António in the Pinhão valley, and Panascal in the Távora valley. The wines are still trodden by foot in the stone lagar tanks of Cruzeiro and Panascal. RM Classic nose, still restrained but with taut fruit underlying. Linear berry fruit flavours and firm tannins mid-palate, and a long, sinewy finish. A lovely wine just at the start of a long life. SJ Intense, ripe and minty. Quite full-bodied with ample balancing acidity. Alcohol is a bit too prominent on the finish, but admirable concentration. DW Pure-fruited with vibrant aromatic lift. A melange of black-berried fruit, woven with liquorice and spice. Attractive physicality and freshness balance the burly nature of this wine. (Panel Tasting)” (09/2022)

“Saturated medium-deep ruby. Exotic aromas of black fruit liqueur, road tar, smoked meat and hot stones; this reminded me of a great ripe-year Hermitage. Hugely rich and dense, with compelling sweetness and pliancy but also sound framing acidity. Extremely youthful and very long on the aftertaste. Finishes with suave but strong tannins and excellent grip and thrust. Like the best examples of the vintage, this won't injure your palate if you broach a bottle today, but it's structured for extended aging. (ST)” (02/2003)

“Shaded mid to deep garnet. Some muted spiciness but not the most thrilling vintage port on the nose, though there is good vigour and charming sweetness on the palate and the tannins are sufficiently retreated to make drinking this now a possibility. Dry finish but very persistent. (JR)” (12/2022)

“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.” (01/2023)

“Saturated deep ruby. Brooding, reticent nose of cassis and kirsch; there's nothing cooked about this one! Then massive, sweet and superrich 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 in a 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 2000s, and, along with the Quinta do Noval Nacional, is an early candidate for port of the 2003 vintage. (ST)” (02/2006)

“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. (RV)” (11/2005)

“Lots of grape and raisin on the nose. Full-bodied, chewy and lightly sweet. Serious concentration, with lots of grip on the finish. Just what to expect from a young Vintage Port. (JS)” (04/2006)

“This is a beauty right now. Violet in color, scent and texture, Fonseca uses all the plumpness of the vintage to best advantage. It glistens with freshness, with long, dark fruit flavors held in place almost invisibly by the persistence of tannin. The schisty scent of smoke off broken rock gives the structure its electricity, and, with the freshness of the fruit, will sustain the wine for decades.” (12/2005)

“The 2003 Vintage Port comes in with 92 grams per liter of residual sugar. This is a big boy in terms of voluptuous fruit, but (at least as double decanted overnight), it is drinkable now, even if it still tightens noticeably as it sits in the glass. Make no mistake, though—it is nowhere near peak. This rather dry Fonseca is big and fat, yet there is also some concept of balance here, surprisingly. This very warm vintage wasn't exactly shy. The concentration easily counters the power, and it steadily acquired better balance as it sat and aired. In terms of complexity, there's no there there yet, if you'll allow the Gertrude Stein summary. In that sense, at least, it is far too young and needs another decade. Winemaker David Guimaraens told me that he thinks his grandchildren will be able to enjoy it, so there is no rush. Cellar this for another decade, at the least, more like 20 years if you like them softer and more complex. This will still improve, but it has some more questions to answer in the cellar. (MS)” (08/2017)