2011 Fonseca, Port, Portugal

Fonseca is the Dark Lady to Taylor’s Master and Commander, its feminine charm, courtesy of the Panascal vineyard, evidenced throughout its long life and its tannins characteristically silky and rounded.

Violets, black tea and cassis dominate the aromas, followed by trademark sweetness and tannic elegance on the palate. There are notes of graphite and herbs mid-palate, just to reassure that one is not to be overwhelmed by the sheer generosity of fruit content. The clean, pure finish provides further reassurance, unnecessarily because by this stage of the tasting one is more than satisfied that this is a top class Fonseca, sui generis and built to last.
Simon Field MW, Port Buyer


With a lifted, multi-faceted nose of damsons, black cherries, cassis and violet, this is pure and majestically structured, and oozes aristocratic class. The seamless tannins are beautifully integrated and frame the ripe black fruit perfectly. It is superb, and one for the long haul.
Fergus Stewart, Private Account Manager