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Fonseca Port Vintage 1997 750ml

size
750ml
country
Portugal
region
Porto
WA
93
VM
93
WS
90
Additional vintages
WA
93
Rated 93 by Wine Advocate
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. Anticipated maturity: now-2020. ... More details
Image of bottle
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Fonseca Port Vintage 1997 750ml

SKU 948537
Case Only Purchase
Long-term Pre-Arrival
$459.96
/case
$76.66
/750ml bottle
Quantity
min order 6 bottles
* This is a Long-term Pre-arrival item and is available for online ordering only. This item will ship on a future date after a 4-8 months transfer time. For additional details about Pre-arrival Items please visit our FAQ page.
Professional Ratings
WA
93
VM
93
WS
90
WA
93
Rated 93 by Wine Advocate
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. Anticipated maturity: now-2020.
VM
93
Rated 93 by Vinous Media
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.
WS
90
Rated 90 by Wine Spectator
Shows maturity, with brown bread, melted licorice and espresso notes, carried by a fine-grained structure that allows toffee, toasted sesame and caramel notes to fill in easily on the finish. You can easily drink this now, but the elegance and balance will hold for a bit.--1997 Vintage Port retrospective (January 2017). Drink now through 2030. 9,500 cases made.
Product Details
size
750ml
country
Portugal
region
Porto
Additional vintages
Overview
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.
barrel

Region: Porto

Porto, situated in the Douro Valley of Portugal, has long been recognized as a vitally important center for viticulture and wine production. Of course, the city itself is most readily associated with the beautifully aromatic and utterly delicious Port wines, which have been continually popular around the world since the 18th century. The wineries in and around Porto know that their terroir is highly special, with a wonderful mix of gravelly and clay based soils, packed full of minerals carried by the river that flows through it. This, combined with the hot and sunny climate, creates perfect conditions for high quality grape cultivation, and there are dozens of varietals which thrive in and around Porto, many of which are used for making the famous fortified wines.
fields

Country: Portugal

Most of us are quick to associate Portugal primarily with the excellent fortified wines which come out of the Porto area, but there is much more to Portuguese viticulture than just this. Perhaps the most popular still wines the country produces are the varieties from the Vinho Verde region, which uses grapes that do not achieve high doses of sugar, meaning the wines are at their best when young and full of natural, springy fruit flavors The wines of the Douro region have undergone many transformations in their flavor and character over the centuries; once regarded as a bitter wine, the exporters experimented with fortifying the wine with brandy. After several centuries, vintners found a balance in the modern age which is at once reminiscent of Port wine, yet with the structure and character closer to other fine Portuguese wines. Thanks to the appellation system of Portugal and the strict laws governing wine production, Portuguese wines continue to maintain their reputation for quality and the distinctive characteristics they carry.
Customer Reviews
Customer Reviews

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More Details
Winery Fonseca
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Region: Porto

Porto, situated in the Douro Valley of Portugal, has long been recognized as a vitally important center for viticulture and wine production. Of course, the city itself is most readily associated with the beautifully aromatic and utterly delicious Port wines, which have been continually popular around the world since the 18th century. The wineries in and around Porto know that their terroir is highly special, with a wonderful mix of gravelly and clay based soils, packed full of minerals carried by the river that flows through it. This, combined with the hot and sunny climate, creates perfect conditions for high quality grape cultivation, and there are dozens of varietals which thrive in and around Porto, many of which are used for making the famous fortified wines.
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Country: Portugal

Most of us are quick to associate Portugal primarily with the excellent fortified wines which come out of the Porto area, but there is much more to Portuguese viticulture than just this. Perhaps the most popular still wines the country produces are the varieties from the Vinho Verde region, which uses grapes that do not achieve high doses of sugar, meaning the wines are at their best when young and full of natural, springy fruit flavors The wines of the Douro region have undergone many transformations in their flavor and character over the centuries; once regarded as a bitter wine, the exporters experimented with fortifying the wine with brandy. After several centuries, vintners found a balance in the modern age which is at once reminiscent of Port wine, yet with the structure and character closer to other fine Portuguese wines. Thanks to the appellation system of Portugal and the strict laws governing wine production, Portuguese wines continue to maintain their reputation for quality and the distinctive characteristics they carry.