Fonseca Vintage 1963
Clear ruby red with a slight amber tinge having a rich plummy and fruity nose. Two to three hours after decanting it had opened out into a harmonious experience of plummy richness in a full body with just the right amount of hinting at oily aldehydes. After fifty years the depth of its youth has been replaced with complete integration of the component flavours.
Vista Alegre White 20 Years Old (Bottled 2013)
The appearance of this port was not like any I had seen before being a bright copper coloured brown. This colour was lighter than a tawny port but significantly darker than your average wood aged white port. The nose was rich and almost tary yet it had a honey sweetness at the same time. There was substantial oaky body on tasting with the sweetness of the grapes almost overcome by the bitter astringency of the wood. This port had complexity and depth but was very different from a tawny of the same age having noticeable less fruit flavours coming through. This made for a fairly unique port wine experience as the contribution from the oak barrel was very much to the fore but pleasantly matched with a gentle sweet component from the grapes.
