I just purchased 3 '77 Fonseca VP. Got them yesterday. One of the bottles was fairly inexpensive (only $135) it was listed as showing some signs of seepage, but also claims good storage. How long the "good storage" conditions existed is beyond me. I decide to take the risk on the bottle.

There are obvious signs of seepage and some slight capsule corrosion. If I press on the cork it does not seem to be mushy or seem to move nor does it feel rock hard. Fill is just above top shoulder, just into the neck.

So my question is. Is it likely this is any good? I know port is fairly hardy, but, how hardy?

Of the other two bottles, I paid slightly more for, there are slight signs of seepage on one with fill about .5in into the neck and another with capsule corrosion but no real sign of seepage, fill is high neck. How likely is it that these bottles are any good? I know the only real way to find out is to open them but I had intended on holding the two better bottles for some time?

Thanks.

I can't comment on Port as i don't drink it but I never purchase bottles showing any signs of seepage. While I have heard stories of bottles being uneffected, every bottle with seepage I have ever had has been off. the few exceptions are some rieslings from germany where they tend to overfill- but even then, I try to avoid.

Good luck!

No guarantees, but with a low neck fill, reasonably sound cork and port's ability to withstand a beating, I'm liking your chances. No reason to wait, though. Stand that puppy up for a few days and pop it. Let us know.

PH

I agree with PH. Port can take a lot. But do stand it up then open and enjoy. There are some who believe that the '77 Fonseca may not be as long-lived as was orignally believed.

I have 3. I think I will take the lowest fill and drink it next weekend when I go home to visit the family. An entire bottle of port for the wife and me is a bit much.

I would have bailed on the one with seepage but considering it's port and higher in alchohol content I wouldn't fret. At 30 years it's time to pop one anyway.

quote:

Originally posted by mpls wine guy:
I would have bailed on the one with seepage but considering it's port and higher in alchohol content I wouldn't fret. At 30 years it's time to pop one anyway.

Truly clueless.

Curt-
I recently sourced several bottles of '77 Fonseca. Every bottle had signs of seepage. Other than that, the bottles were in very good condition.

I opened 1 in Chicago, the night previous to the Italian Wine Offline. No issues but that, while showing very well, it didn't completely rock my world (so often the case with a "100 pointer"). However, I also attribute that heavily to the fact that we virtually popped and poured it, near the end of the evening, after many, many bottles of aged Champagne and Bordeaux. What a night!!

I'm not in the camp that predict this wine as a 'must drink now'. Plenty of life left! No worries, I'm sure. I'm not a Port 'expert' by any means, but with Port of this age, I've seen more seepers than not and yet to have a bad one (knock on wood). BTW: Congratulations! $135 is an unbelievable price for a '77 Fonseca.