"Vintage Port 2000 and 2003: panel tasting results - 92 Points
Tasted by: Richard Mayson, Shane Jones, Demetri Walters MW
Shows a vibrant fruit core of blackcurrant, plum and black cherry, some refreshing herbal notes, and ripe/rolling mouthfeel – all kept fresh with balancing grip. Decanter Tasting Suite, London, 01 Oct 2022
Pierre-Antoine Rovani, Wine Advocate 96+ Points
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. Reviewed October 2005
Richard Hemming MW, JancisRobinson.com 17.5+ Points
Intense but obtuse. Beyond dark fruit and a few hints of violets, not much on the nose. Dark chocolate, savoury tones yet siren-esque rich fruit that holds enormous promise. (RH) Date tasted 24th Sept 08."
Fonseca was founded in 1815 and is regarded as one of the most stylistically consistent of the classic Vintage Port houses. Every one of its Vintage Ports has been made by five generations of the Guimaraens family since its foundation. Fonseca produces one of the most exotic and aromatically powerful of all Vintage Ports. The heady opulence of a mature Fonseca Vintage is almost intoxicating in its power and complexity and it is this remarkable aromatic potential which ensures the longevity of the Fonseca Vintage Ports. The cornerstone of the Fonseca vintage blend is Quinta do Panascal, the firm’s famous estate located on the steep slopes of the Távora Valley. The wines of Fonseca’s two quintas in the Pinhão Valley, Cruzeiro and Santo António, are also traditional components of the blend.
