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Port Wine
Fonseca Guimarães
Vintage 2018, 75cl
Douro

58,88
approx. £49.15

 20%

 2020-2040

 Serve at 14º-16º

0 /5
0 ratings

 

O Produtor, tasting note published in November 15th 2020

Almost impenetrable purple-black colour in the centre, with a narrow violet band at the rim. The nose is dense and compact, with impressive depth and structure. The fruit quality is excellent, a delicious blend of red and black fruit aromas mixed with dark chocolate notes, hallmarks of Fonseca vintages. Surrounding this core of powerful, complex fruit is an aura of balsamic and minty aromas. While the nose is sumptuous and seductive, there is an attractive, firm edge provided by graphite and fine minerality. The first impression on the palate is one of silky smoothness, but the tannins suddenly explode on the palate with assertive pungency and a thread of acidity that runs through the palate to provide lively freshness. There is an abundance of fresh berry fruit flavours that linger through to the long finish. This excellent Guimaraens Vintage displays vigour and depth but is supple and expressive enough to be drunk early.

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Fonseca Guimarães

The character of the 2018 wines was influenced by an unusual and occasionally challenging viticultural year. After a very hot and dry 2017, by mid-January, 56% of Portugal, particularly the north-east, was declared to be in severe drought. Fortunately, March was very wet and heavy rainfall, totalling 223mm in Pinhão, filled groundwater reserves that came to prove vital during the ripening period. By the end of June the weather remained cold and wet causing mildew in some vineyards and hail storms on 28 May caused extensive damage to some properties in the Pinhão region. The vineyard cycle was about three weeks behind the previous year, with the veraison only arriving at the end of July. The weather in July was dry and relatively mild, but August saw the arrival of intensely hot weather with temperatures well over 40°C in the Upper Douro in the early days of August. The heat allowed the cycle to recover and although the hot weather continued, the large amount of moisture in the soil resulted in even and balanced ripening of the grapes. Harvest started at Quinta do Panascal da Fonseca, in the Távora valley and its properties in the Pinhão, Cruzeiro and Santo António valley, during the week of 22nd September and was carried out under hot and dry conditions. The young wines had a deep colour and stood out for the freshness of their fruit and excellent acidity.

Allergens information

Contains sulphites.

SKU: 105644