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Fonseca, Vintage Port, 1997

Fortified Wine from Porto & Douro, Portugal
by Fonseca
$79.99
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Exceptional vintage Port from the house founded in 1822 when Manuel Pedro Guimaraens acquired Fonseca, Monteiro & Co. Now in its 6th generation under winemaker David Guimaraens. The 1997 vintage—marked by an extremely hot harvest yielding 30% less than normal—produced wines of remarkable intensity and power. Hand-picked grapes are foot-trodden in traditional stone lagares for gentle extraction, then aged two years in wood before bottling. From Quinta da Nogueira's schistous soils at 640 meters. Fonseca has been among the most consistent vintage Port producers for over 40 years.

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Antonio Galloni

93 points

"Full saturated ruby. Inky, brooding aromas of syrupy black fruits and violet. Dense, thick and tactile, with superb depth of flavor and compelling juicy sweetness. Finishes with powerful tannins and superb grip. Not as flamboyantly aromatic as this wine normally is in its youth, but structured for long, slow development in bottle." —Stephen Tanzer

Robert Parker

93 points

"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." —Robert M. Parker, Jr.

Jancis Robinson

17 points

"Slightly dull purple. Raw nose. Very sweet at first then very very dry, rasping tannins on the finish. A very youthful, unformed wine which may develop into something special but is very difficult to judge at present." —Jancis Robinson MW

Wine Spectator

91 points

"A young Port, with good, dark color and mineral and raspberry character. Medium- to full-bodied, with a solid core of fruit and a firm, silky finish. This is outstanding, but I expected a little more from Fonseca; not as impressive as when tasted from barrel."

More about Fonseca

Fonseca Guimaraens has been making Port since 1815, and their Bin 27 is the best-selling Port in America and still the reference standard for Ruby Reserve. They control three Quintas in the Douro Valley, each contributing to the house's distinctive dry-fruit style. Whether it's a young Bin 27 or aged tawny, Fonseca Port is reliable, elegant, and built for actual drinking.

Wine Details

  • Grape Variety

    Red Blend

  • Vintage

    1997

  • Size

    750ml

  • Farming Practice

    Traditional

  • Style

    Aromatic , Rich

  • Sweetness

    Sweet

  • Body

    Full Bodied

Flatiron's Take

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Tasting Notes & Food Pairings

Perfect Pairings

Dark chocolate desserts, nut-based pastries, aged cheddar, walnuts and dried fruit

Tasting Profile

Dark plum, blackberry, and raisin with notes of chocolate and spice. Full-bodied and rich with balanced acidity and soft tannins, displaying concentrated dark fruit flavors and a long, velvety finish.

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