Fonseca : Vintage Port 2009

Extremely ripe, raisiny vintage Port with lots of wet-earth and granite character. Off-dry and chewy. Big tannins. Still brutish but impressive. Better in 2018.

Deep dark red color. Elegant floral and fruity notes on the bouquet. Equally elegant on the palate, with velvety tannins and balanced cherry and blackcurrant. Full, long finish.

Concentrated, complex, velvety, spicy, peppery bouquet, prunes, licorice, smoke, dried fruit, damsons, tobacco, graphite, black pepper, candied orange. Creamy, dense, fruity palate with generous opulence, tightly knit fruit, plenty of fine tannins, a lavish yet elegant structure, multifaceted, powerful aromatics, and a very long, dense finish with extensive after-flavors. Can improve further. 19/20 2025 - 2070

The Fonseca 2009 has a very sweet, typically opulent bouquet of black plum, blackberry, chimney soot and a touch of pencil shavings that is very complex and alluring. The palate is full-bodied with powerful ripe blackberry, allspice, clove and balsamic notes, a roiling, powerful, assertive Fonseca with a sweet, dark chocolate-tinged finish that grips the mouth, but it needs two decades to mellow and demonstrate the finesse to balance the intensity. This is a wonderful 2009 Vintage Port, though I suspect that the 2011 will ultimately prove even better. Tasted May 2013.