Vintage 2016

See its Characteristics

THE GRADUAL AND EVEN RIPENING OF THE GRAPES HAS PRODUCED A WONDERFULLY BALANCED 2016 FONSECA VINTAGE, WITH PURE FRUIT, FIRM AND VERY WELL INTEGRATED TANNINS AND ATTRACTIVE FRESHNESS.

Fonseca has been part of the first category of Vintage Port wine producers since the mid-19th century. Fonseca Vintage Port wines are known for their lush fruitiness that develops great opulence and complexity with age. Their wines appeal to the enthusiast and connoisseur, perhaps more than the Vintage Ports of any other house, because they are the result of inspired production and a deep knowledge of viticulture and terroir.

Vintage Port wines represent the best of the products of an exceptional year. Unlike Port wines that age in wood, Vintage Port wines will continue to age and improve in bottle for decades, inscribing in their character both the characteristics of the vineyard and the influence of the winemaker.

The company's Vintage Port wines come from its own estates: Cruzeiro and Santo António in the Pinhão valley, which have contributed to the company's Vintage Port blend for 100 years, as well as the Panascal estate in the Távora valley.

  • Fonseca Porto BOTTLE LAIN DOWN

  • Fonseca Porto DECANTING RECOMMENDED

  • Fonseca Porto VEGAN

  • Fonseca Porto 16ºC - 18 ºC

The Port continues to improve for decades after bottling. The bottle should be kept lain down in a cool place, ideally at a temperature below 16ºC.

Should be decanted before being served. Stand the bottle upright a few hours before decanting to allow the sediment to fall to the bottom of the bottle. Pour the wine in a slow, steady stream into a decanter, ensuring that only the clear wine is poured, leaving the sediment behind.

This Port wine is Vegan friendly

The wine benefits from being served between 16ºC to 18ºC.

The Port continues to improve for decades after bottling. The bottle should be kept lain down in a cool place, ideally at a temperature below 16ºC.

Should be decanted before being served. Stand the bottle upright a few hours before decanting to allow the sediment to fall to the bottom of the bottle. Pour the wine in a slow, steady stream into a decanter, ensuring that only the clear wine is poured, leaving the sediment behind.

This Port wine is Vegan friendly

The wine benefits from being served between 16ºC to 18ºC.

Tasting Notes

Deep purple color with a fine purple rim. The nose displays very fine and pure black fruit, a fusion of black cherry, cassis and blackberry jam aromas, with notes of crushed mint, an ethereal fragrance of violets and hints of ripe tropical fruit. The year has given an additional layer of purity and refinement to Fonseca's subtle and complex fruit character, as well as an attractive minerality.

In the mouth it is supported by vibrant acidity and taut tannins that provide structure but also texture and volume. Fresh berry flavors remain through the long finish. A finely crafted and perfectly balanced Vintage Port.

Notes on Viticultural Year

The weather pattern of the 2016 vintage was relatively unusual. Rainfall in April and May was almost three times the average of the last10 years. It replenished groundwater reserves that had been reduced due to the previous year's drought, but also resulted in significant fruit loss and consequent reduced yields in some areas, as well as a late start to the ripening cycle. In contrast, July gave way to the onset of hot, dry conditions that lasted for the rest of the summer. Ripening was uniform, gradual and completed after a few rains in mid-September.

Estates that delayed harvest until after the rains were rewarded with perfect harvest weather, in which cool nights contributed to long, well-balanced fermentations and smooth extraction. The winemaker's notes note that the young wines exhibited very fine aromas and pronounced tannins. The initial promise was fully realized, with the 2016 Vintages showing elegance, finesse, lively acidity and tannins of exceptional quality. Harvesting at Fonseca's Quinta do Panascal began on September 21 and at Quinta do Cruzeiro in Vale do Pinhão on the 28th. The third Fonseca property, Quinta do Santo António, started harvesting only on October 6th.

Vintage 2016

Awards & Press Comments

Pairing Suggestions

Walnuts, blue veined and other richly flavoured cheeses are excellent accompaniments to Vintage Port; so too are dried fruits such as apricots or figs. Alternatively, simply savour the rich and complex flavours of the wine on their own in a generously proportioned glass with good company.

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