FONSECA
No Port house is the inherited tradition of winemaking skill and knowledge more evident than at Fonseca Guimaraens, where the wines have been made by the same family since its foundation in 1822.
The Fonseca Guimaraens house style is one of richness and warmth, with a lush fruit intensity and a structure of both dimension and finesse. More voluptuous than massive, Fonseca Ports are coveted for their sumptuous yet refined body and great longevity. Background Information
The wines used to produce Fonseca LBV were drawn from a reserve of some of the best full bodied red ports produced at the 2005 harvest, from grapes grown on Fonseca’s own vineyards and on other top properties in the Cima Corgo and Douro Superior areas of the Douro.
These wines are aged in wood vats of 50 pipes (27,500 litres) capacity and then bottled after five years. A limited quantity of this outstanding blend was produced.
Late Bottled Vintage is bottled when ready to drink. This port benefits from being decanted before serving, as it is not filtered when bottled.
Notes on Viticultural Year and Harvest
The winter preceding the 2005 harvest was extremely cold and dry leaving the reserves of water severely depleted after an already dry and hot 2004.
The growing season started later than usual as a result of the cold weather and the shortage of water. The whole growing season was marked by lower vigour and small berry size for all grape varieties.
From May 16th until 6th September there was no further rain. However, in spite of the extreme heat and drought like conditions, the ripening process continued normally, although at a slower pace than usual. Fortunately, the dry summer conditions were relieved by steady rainfall between 6th and 9th September, giving the vines the critical relief that they needed, enabling them to complete the ripening process and deliver a perfectly ripe and well balanced crop.
Press Comments
Wine Enthusiast, The Most Coveted Wines of 2010 – December 2010
“A well balanced wine, bringing both rich fruit and sweet tannins to go with dense concentration. There is ripeness from black jam and sweet jelly, followed by a good core of dryness. Editor’s choice.”
Serving Suggestions
Fonseca LBV is the perfect finish to any meal. It benefits from being decanted and should be served in a generously proportioned wine glass so that its rich fruity nose can be enjoyed to the full. Excellent with fully flavoured cheeses, especially blue cheeses such as Stilton or Roquefort. It is also delicious with desserts made with chocolate or berry fruits.
2005 LATE BOTTLED VINTAGE UNFILTERED PORT
Tasting Note:
A fine, elegant bouquet. Intense dark chocolate and rich luscious black berry and cherry fruit aromas. Full, ripe, rounded fat fruit mouthful. Fills the mouth to bursting with juicy black fruit, liquourice and chocolate. A wine with lovely textural quality; velvety, smooth. The finish is full of flavor and wonderfully intense and long.
