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Very pale, almost no colour at all, pure pale orange. The nose was strange, mostly volatile shoe polish. Sweet initial impact and a much better palate than was expected. Pure tertiary flavours, with a great acidity balancing out a coffee and orange peel flavour. Actually more interesting that initia...

From a Bordeaux bottle. Deep red in colour, 95% opaque. Showing lots of ripe pears on the nose (and DMS picked up cold meat). Medium bodied entry, a little too hot for comfort but with a lovely texture. Showing a modest amount of ripe cherry fruit. A dry aftertaste, with a hot start to the finish bu...

Very light colour, pale pink and clear; 20% opaque. Hot and peppery on the nose. Light bodied, sweet and simple palate although soft chocolate shows through. An acidic orange aftertaste and a good sugary length. This is light bodied and simple drinking, I have had much better bottles of this wine. 8...

Ex-cellars. Impenetrable purple colour, opaque. Fabulous nose, full of violets and lavendar; still very grapey. Really attractive. Rich and ripe on the palate, full of incredibly sweet fruit with a streak of brutal acidity almost hidden behind the fruit. The tannins are difficult to find, being almo...

Ex-cellars. Deep red in colour, showing youth but not baby purple. 99% opaque. Slightly stewed fruit on the nose, full of bright raspberries. Sweet fruit dominates the entry, with lively and spicy acidity. The finish is long but hot, and is accompanied by a dry chocolate and sweet bramble flavour. 8...

Ex-cellars. Deep red, opaque, but with no purple. Open on the nose and full of blackcurrants. Soft texture, with big tannins and lots of ripe blackcurrant. Delicious on the palate, lots of big flavours. Big and fruity aftertaste, with a very long finish. A wine with lots of potential. 90/100. Drunk ...

Ex-cellars. Deep red, holding into the rim, 90% opaque. Surprisingly closed on the nose considering the extended decant, showing some violets. Full and rich entry with deep flavours. Strong acidity and soft, dry tannins. Very fat and ripe. A dry aftertaste, full of rich fruit. Cheek drying tannins s...

From tregnum. Ex-cellars. Gentle red in colour, with some paling on the rim; 60% opacity. Dusty raspberry on the nose, slightly hot. Sweet impact, but with lots of heat among the soft raspberry fruit, gentle red licorice and tight acidity. The red licorice dominates the aftertaste, but merges into t...

Brick red, very slightly lighter in colour than the Taylor 1963 shown alongside; 30% opaque. Sweet and inviting nose, full of redcurrants and raisins and spicy mace. Very "Graham" in the mouth; sweet mixed spiced dried fruits, lots of candied cherries as well as gentle tannins and delightf...

Another bottle of Gould Campbell 1977, Oporto bottled. I really don't have a good strike rate with these. I think I'm probably 9 out of 10 corked.

Dry and bitter. Full of bitter tannins with some sweet fruit hidden in the background. Others with experience of good bottles of wine say that this is a bad bottle. NR. Drunk 25 September 2010.

Bottled by Tanners. Darkest of the wines of the night; rich and red in colour, about 60% opaque. Slightly muted on the nose, mostly showing secondary redcurrants with a bit of spice. Lovely rich texture in the mouth, medium- to full-bodied, with a big acidic core through the heart of a huge mandarin...

Lightest of the four Fonseca wines on the night, red with a faint rim of orange. Restrained nose, with a bit of a menthol streak over a minty nose. Sweet entry, marked tannins covered by sweet jelly beans and gentle caramel with plenty of redcurrant - but rather simple. Plenty of sweet strawberry ja...

Very clear, beautiful red, 70% opaque. Menthol and sweet cherries on the nose. Smooth and creamy texture; smooth flavour with rich tannins and big fruit. Some tannin, but slightly more acidity would be ideal. The aftertaste of cherries, and then a long finish of chocolate on the gums. A lovely wine,...

Bottled by Berry Brothers. Deep red, deepest colour of the Fonseca wines on this night. Slightly flat on the nose, with a slight hint of TCA, perhaps a bit harsh. Rich mouthfeel, with distinct tannins, full and rich flavours but with a hint of TCA and cardboard. A little harsh on the aftertaste, but...

Bottled by Hedges & Butler. Vibrant colour, rich red with some bricking starting to appear; 60% opaque. A tiny bit of spirit on the very rich nose, full of Christmas cake. Thick and rich impact on the palate. Gentle tannins bring a lovely pepperiness, lovely mature fruit that brings ripe melons ...

Rich red in colour; 60% opaque. Fresh and grassy on the nose, with lots of cranberries. Rich and sweet impact with the acidity partly hidden behind the rich fruit; impressive depth of flavours. There is a touch of heat on swallowing, but this precedes a long finish, full of chocolate and sweet anise...

Deep red, 90% opaque. Lovely rich nose, incredibly complex with rose perfume and masses of fruit. Smooth and silky texture with lots of sweet fruit. Chocolate tannins mix in with the enormous levels of fruit. Big flavours; big aftertaste. Lots of chocolate and fruit, although the finish is a little ...

Slightly cloudy in appearance. Sweet and caramelised onions, rosemary tinge on the nose. Nicely balanced and attractive. Surprisingly sweet entry, with a lovely balance. Gentle acidity balancing mature and secondary fruit - even a trace of tannin. Lovely layering of flavours but a bit of heat at the...

Tasted at C. da Silva's new tasting house in Vila Nova de Gaia. Bottled 2010 - 2 weeks before being opened! Rich and deep orange colour, 10% opaque, but a hint of green on the rim. A lovely petrol nose, full of tropical fruit and melons. Medium mouthfeel, quite thick texture. Lots of lychees and bay...

Tasted at C. da Silva's new tasting house in Vila Nova de Gaia. Bottled 2009. Deep orange in colour, with a light centre, 5% opaque. Soft nose of peaches and apricots. Medium density in texture, bringing gentle flavours of sweet lychee and apricot. Aeration releases some lovely spice. Dry finish, wi...

Tasted at C. da Silva's new tasting house in Vila Nova de Gaia. Bottled October 2009. Pale gold, with a glowing centre, 10% opaque. Petrol on the nose and ripe, pink melons. Lovely texture, gorgeous balance, full of flavours of lychees and tinned peaches with a fantastic syrup texture. Gorgeous arom...

Tasted at C. da Silva's new tasting house in Vila Nova de Gaia. Bottled October 2009. Mid-depth burnt sienna in colour, 20% opaque. A dense nose, lots of pear and some pine resin. Very dense in texture, huge flavours of wine with masses of marmalade, quince bitters and soft pine resin. Some tingling...

A blend by the famous chef Rui Paula. Bottled October 2009. Tasted at C. da Silva's new tasting house in Vila Nova de Gaia. Orange colour, 20% opaque, light green tinge on the rim. A clear "colheita" nose, with paint and over-ripe melons. Lovely mid-weight texture, gentle (and balanced) ac...

Good depth of colour, red even into the rim; 40% opaque. Cinnamon and cedar on the nose, with a hint of eucalyptus behind. Lovely thick texture; evolved flavours and still - surprisingly - a touch of tannin. Sweet, with lovely floral elements; perhaps some slightly harsh acidity upsetting the balanc...