3 bottles per lot
Details
Fonseca--Vintage 1948
Very bin-soiled and slightly damaged labels. Levels into neck
Vintage note: A very good vintage but declared by only nine shippers which, in retrospect, was an unfortunate error of judgement as it turned out to be so successful. It was seven years before another vintage of real quality was declared.
The top three '48s: Taylor, Graham and Fonseca. ****. Michael Broadbent
Tasting note: The third of the trio of great '48s. A dozen notes between 1958 and 1977, all good, 'fruity', 'perfect balance' etc. In November 1979, an impressively deep, rich J&B bottling (wax seal embossed 'Justerini & Brooks Bailey & Co. 1948') with a curious spicy taste and hot finish. Next, nine years later, the opening wine at the Hollywood Wine Society's 'The World's Greatest Vintage Ports' tasting. Much to our surprise it was in a magnum Burgundy bottle. Quite genuine though. Presumably a post-war shortage of port magnums when Harvey's bottled the wine, with a fully branded cork in 1950. Sweet, firm, well made but with a touch of corkiness, not entirely clean. The next month at a British Airways annual wine commitee seminar at Mosimann's: mature but lively; fragrant - with a touch of mothballs; soft fleshy fruit, good backbone, peppery dry finish. Good wine. Last tasted April 1998. At best **** Surviving half a century effortlessly. Michael Broadbent, Vintage Wine
3 bottles per lot
Very bin-soiled and slightly damaged labels. Levels into neck
Vintage note: A very good vintage but declared by only nine shippers which, in retrospect, was an unfortunate error of judgement as it turned out to be so successful. It was seven years before another vintage of real quality was declared.
The top three '48s: Taylor, Graham and Fonseca. ****. Michael Broadbent
Tasting note: The third of the trio of great '48s. A dozen notes between 1958 and 1977, all good, 'fruity', 'perfect balance' etc. In November 1979, an impressively deep, rich J&B bottling (wax seal embossed 'Justerini & Brooks Bailey & Co. 1948') with a curious spicy taste and hot finish. Next, nine years later, the opening wine at the Hollywood Wine Society's 'The World's Greatest Vintage Ports' tasting. Much to our surprise it was in a magnum Burgundy bottle. Quite genuine though. Presumably a post-war shortage of port magnums when Harvey's bottled the wine, with a fully branded cork in 1950. Sweet, firm, well made but with a touch of corkiness, not entirely clean. The next month at a British Airways annual wine commitee seminar at Mosimann's: mature but lively; fragrant - with a touch of mothballs; soft fleshy fruit, good backbone, peppery dry finish. Good wine. Last tasted April 1998. At best **** Surviving half a century effortlessly. Michael Broadbent, Vintage Wine
3 bottles per lot
Special notice
(Wine sales only). Christie's charges a Buyer's premium calculated at 17.850% of the hammer price for each lot with a value up to €150,000. If the hammer price of a lot exceeds €150,000 then the premium for the lot is calculated at 17.850% of the first €150,000 plus 11.9% of any amount in excess of €150,000. Buyer's Premium is calculated on this basis for each lot individually.