Fonseca 1997 Vintage Port

Fonseca Vintage Port, Portugal, 1997

Producer Tasting Note:

An attractive, floral scented nose, elegant and complex; raspberry and fresh berry aromas. A very elegant, smooth and complete wine. Hints of tobacco and cedar wood spice - enormous depth. Lovely rich fruit and big tannins. Long finish.

1997 harvest: The weather during the harvest was extremely hot and extra effort was made to prolong the fermentations. Yields however were down by around 30%. The high quality was evident in the wines from the start, with the intensity of the must, good integration of spirit and powerful attractive aromas.

Critics' Tasting Notes:

"Somewhat of a lightweight for Fonseca, but undeniably charming, this dark ruby/purple-colored wine offers a floral, exotic, flamboyant bouquet, a sweet, fleshy style, but not a great deal of weight or massiveness. Heady alcohol, sweet tannin, and a velvety texture make for a gorgeous finish. While I would have preferred to have seen more weight, structure, and intensity, this is an outstanding, albeit lighter than normal Fonseca."

93/100 points, Robert M. Parker Jr., January 2000

"Black purple. Much softer and gentler than the Taylor's. Spice, tannins. A big 'un. Fleshy."

18.5/20 points, Jancis Robinson, October 2002

Fonseca has belonged to the first rank of Vintage Port producers since the mid-nineteenth century. Fonseca Vintage Ports are noted for their luscious fruitiness which develops great opulence and complexity with age.