Wine Advisor
Fonseca, Vintage Port 2003
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Could this be port of the vintage? A very ripe nose, floral with pronounced violets and blueberry. A decadent, harmonious palate - very focused with a svelte, cashmere texture. Touch of spice, tar and dark chocolate on the flamboyant finish. Very complex and a superb 2003 port. Extrovert, ostentatious, powerful and persuasive. Drink 2025-2050+ Tasted May 2005.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The Fonseca 2003 has a typically high-toned bouquet of macerated dark cherries, fig, blueberry jam and a touch of warm gravel. It is quite impenetrable at the moment. The palate is smooth and voluptuous, very harmonious with ripe, luscious dark berry fruit interlaced with black tea, blueberry and cassis. Very caressing on the long succulent, yet slightly smudged finish, but will it develop the profundity of other Fonseca vintages? This should improve with another decade in bottle. Tasted May 2011.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2003 Fonseca has a rich, well-defined bouquet of black cherries, aniseed, kirsch and dark chocolate that is heady and seductive. The palate is full-bodied with sweet ripe fig and mulberry notes forming the entry. There is fatness here, a viscosity that coats the mouth, although fortunately there is acidity to keep everything in balance. Warm on the finish, a hint of eau-de-vie lingers after the Port has departed. This is a harlot of a Port, but there is nothing wrong with that once in a while – just not every year! Tasted May 2013.
Reviewed by: Mark Squires
The 2003 Vintage Port was aged for 21 months in wood and comes in at 92 grams of residual sugar. This is another oldie rereleased now. The Taylor's may be burlier and fresher, the Croft more nuanced and complex, but of the trio of 2003s in this report, this might well be the winner today. (Then again, it might not be; the comparison was certainly fun.) It has the most elegance, freshness and nuance, far younger than the Croft and more ready than the Taylor's. I can only say, I respect whatever choice you make; pick 'em. Personally, I lean to Taylor's in the longer run, but that is the least ready of the three.
Reviewed by: Mark Squires
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. The price reflects current availability. Korbrand, the importer, indicated limited stocks are available in the USA as well as Portugal. There may be an official re-release as well.
Reviewed by: Pierre Rovani
Sporting an opaque, black-colored robe with dark purple trim, the 2003 Fonseca Vintage Port exhibits a nose of profound depth. Its sweet black mass of dark fruit and spice aromas leads to a character of immense depth, richness, and weight. Full-bodied, viscous, and almost impenetrable, this dense, backward port is powerful and exceptionally long in the finish. Possibly the most masculine Fonseca I’ve ever encountered, it coats the taster’s palate with licorice, jammy black fruits, and notes of chocolate that last for over a minute. This blockbuster will require at least three decades to fully blossom. Anticipated maturity: 2035-2060. Importer: Kobrand, Inc., New York, NY; tel. (212) 490-9300
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
This nose seems to have closed down since its initial exuberant showing. But it does have that ripe black fruit, creme de menthe, blueberry, orange liqueur and a touch of walnut developing with aeration. The palate is full-bodied, sinewy, lithe on the entry with saturated blackberry, damson and fig flavours on the front and then sexy liquorices infused cherry on the finish. Lovely focus, spicy and vivacious towards the finish. Excellent. Drink 2025-2050+ Tasted May 2009.
About the Producer
Fonseca is one of the most prestigious and historic Port wine houses in Portugal's Douro Valley. Established in 1822 by Antônio Monteiro Fonesca, the quinta has been owned and operated by the same family for nearly two centuries. Known for their concentrated, complex and age-worthy Vintage Ports, Fonseca also produces outstanding Late Bottled Vintage, Crusted and Tawny styles that showcase the depth and diversity of the Douro terroir. The winery's flagship Vintage Ports, such as the iconic Fonseca Guimaraens, are highly coveted by collectors for their remarkable balance, structure and potential to develop over decades in the cellar. Fonseca is considered a benchmark producer in the storied world of Port.
