Fonseca, a large and renowned port winery, has become renowned for its superb Vintage Ports. But what else is Fonseca known for besides being a powerhouse among Vintage Ports? Fonseca's story begins in 1815, a considerable period of time indeed. The port house was founded by two families: the Fonseca and the Monteiros. Later, Fonseca was taken over by the Guimaraerns family, who spent over a century cultivating Fonseca's reputation and shaping its current reputation. From the second half of the twentieth century to the present day, the Yeatman family has been responsible for the well-being of these beautiful ports.
What does Guimaraens mean?
Some years are not good enough for a classic Vintage Port, but are also far too good to use in a blend. This is why Guimaraens was created. This variety was first produced in 1930, the same year a Vintage Port was made. However, these grapes weren't suitable for classic Vintages. This Guimaraens was made from less potent ingredients. You could compare Guimaraens to a second-generation blend of a top Bordeaux.
2015 perfect for this red port
The great advantage of Guimaraens port is that it's both easier and less complex to drink, and the price is also somewhat "easier." Incidentally, the 2015 vintage was a top year for this Fonseca Guimaraens. This top-notch wine is made from two grape varieties, Tinta Roriz and Touriga Nacional. Both of these grapes have a great suppleness, which we clearly taste in the port. The 2015 grapes enjoyed a beautiful and long growing season. Once the winemaker was satisfied with the ripeness of the grapes, they were harvested by hand. After the even pressing and vinification, the port was given ample time to mature in the bottle, as we would expect from a Vintage port.
Special port this Guimaraens Vintage 2015
Finally, we've arrived at the unique taste of this Fonseca Guimaraens Vintage 2015. We're incredibly curious about it now. Is this port just as good, or perhaps even better, than a classic Vintage port? We secretly think so. The color is a beautiful, bright ruby red with a purple sheen. On the nose, this Fonseca Guimaraens Vintage 2015 offers complex notes of black fruit, such as blackberries and currants, complemented by mint and herbs. The superb palate makes this Vintage 2015 port a success to drink now, but those who want to age it for a longer period are welcome! According to Adrian Bridge, it can be kept for at least 60 years and will continue to age beautifully. On the palate, we recognize notes of black fruit, wood chips, licorice, plums, and raspberries. On the back of the tongue, subtle nuances of raisins, chocolate, and tobacco remain.
2015
