1970 Fonseca

[Alex M]

I had the sincere privilege of attending a dinner at All Souls College Oxford this weekend. The wines selected from the magically curated cellar included Leoville Barton 2005, Meursault les Chevaliers Bachey-Legros 2015, Vosne-Romanee Jean Grivot 2005, Rieussec 2007 and Fonseca 1970.

Purchased en primeur and it had not moved for 52 years until this weekend. Decant length unknown.

A very rich dark red. It looked similar to a Warre 1994 consumed recently.

A very long smell of cherries, blackcurrant, smooth rich spice and tobacco.

Quite viscous, black plum and cassis. But the length was just fantastic.

I felt a bottle with this provenance could be near immortal. I managed to get significant pours from numerous decanters in the room and all were brilliant.

[mcoulson]

Yummy ... That's sounds so nice .... How lucky you are ...

[Will W.]

A wonderful report.

In my student days, one could wander unchecked about All Souls or any other college. At some point, I figured out how to get to the top of one of the towers at Hawksmoor's Quadrangle. Near the peak, there was an interior ladder and one reached the outside by pushing through a trap door. The view was magnificent. Alas, reading Alex's note, I realise now that had I possessed any sense, which was manifestly not the case, I would have been exploring the bowels of the place. Granted, 'twas so long ago that the 1970 Fonseca would not have been ready.