In Bond Fine Wine. 2017 Fonseca, Port, Douro, Portugal. Other vintage port in 12x37.5cl. Top critic score: 96–98/100 (WA). Drinking window: 2025+. Sold in bond by Albany Vintners, independent fine wine merchants.
James Molesworth (JM) — 97/100 · Wine Spectator, 23/10/2019 · Drink 2035-2060
Dark and dense, with fig bread, baker's chocolate and tar notes leading off before the core flavors of plum, black currant and blackberry paste finally start to emerge. The wild, spirited finish shows cast iron, licorice snap and roasted alder elements, delivering a decidedly chewy feel. A big, old-school, throwback Port that will age at a glacial pace.
James Suckling (JS) — 95/100 · JamesSuckling.com, 16/06/2019 · Drink 2025+
Ripe and soft with loads of plummy, smoky and earthy character. Full body. Very sweet. Round and very soft textured. Flavorful finish. Drink in 2025 and onwards.
Mark Squires (MS) — 96–98/100 · Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com, 11/07/2019 · Drink 2030-2075
The 2017 Vintage Port, not quite bottled when seen but the final blend, is a field blend (with typical grapes like Touriga Nacional, Touriga Francesca, Tinto C'o, Tinta Roriz and Tinta Barroca) aged for approximately 20 months in used French oak. It comes in with 98 grams of residual sugar, a little drier on paper than its Taylor sibling this year. Sappy and sensational in flavor and fruit, this…