I sourced this bottle from a reliable source as part of a case lot. The

I sourced this bottle from a reliable source as part of a case lot. The fill level was well into the neck. No idea about the bottler, although I suspect it was English. Double decanted six hours in advance. When I tasted it straight after decanting (using cheesecloth), the maturing red fruits were tight and there was a little spirity alcohol on both the nose and palate. What a difference the aeration made. It gained colour and the nose was more open, with dry dates and figs, finely ground coffee. Long and powerfully balanced palate of dry dates, waves of pleasure, and the persistent impressed me a lot. This is certainly the best showing of Fonseca 1970 I have tried. The bottle was drained in less than ten minutes and this elixir brought many smiles to the table. Judging on this performance, I rank the Fonseca 1970 as a clear second in the 1970 vintage, behind the Noval Nacional that I had the pleasure to try almost three weeks earlier.