★

4.64/5

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Fonseca : Vintage Port 2017

Name: Fonseca : Vintage Port 2017
Brand: Fonseca
SKU: 4007/17
Price: 73.83333333333333 GBP
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.64 (513 reviews)

Duriense

Port

- Red - See details

Parker | 98

J. Robinson | 17.5

Decanter | 95

J. Suckling | 95

£471.00

(

£73.83 / Unit

)

£443.00 Incl. VAT & DP

Packaging : a case of 6 Bottles (75cl)

1 x 75CL

£80.20

6 x 75CL

£443.00

3 x 1.5L

£443.00

In-Stock

DeliveryFree standard delivery from £ 250 purchase
Guaranteed provenanceWines sourced directly from the producing estates

ALL VINTAGES OF THIS WINE

Marks and reviews

/100

Robert Parker

Mark Squires

The 2017 Vintage Port, not quite bottled when originally seen, has now been in bottle for a couple of years. It is a field blend (with typical grapes like Touriga Nacional, Touriga Francesca, Tinto Cão, Tinta Roriz and Tinta Barroca) aged for approximately 20 months in used French oak. It comes in with 98 grams of residual sugar. This is a great Fonseca, distinctive, with a touch of eucalyptus and plums, but also loaded with delicious fruit. Like its Taylor's siblings, there is also a fine backbone. I'd say it is a step behind the Taylor's duo this year, but not by much. It will age well, to say the least.

/100

James Suckling

Ripe and soft with loads of plummy, smoky and earthy character. Full-bodied. Very sweet. Round with a very soft texture. Flavorful finish. Drink from 2025 onwards.

/100

Vinous

Neal Martin

Picking began at Quinta do Panascal on September 6, the two other quintas in Pinhão that form the 2017 Fonseca Vintage Port, Cruzeiro and Santo António, picked on 10 and 17 September respectively. One of the deepest, most opaque color amongst the new Port alumni, it has one of the most backward, almost recalcitrant noses that demands a lot of aeration. It gradually opens to reveal blackberry, melted tar, thyme, clove and violet aromas that are well defined, if maybe just missing the same breeding as Taylor’s. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin. This is fresh and detailed, a slightly more structured Fonseca than expected, quite strict at first with good grip and a lightly spiced, precise finish. Powerful and long on the aftertaste, you can feel this Fonseca 60 seconds after the wine has exited. It deserves 10-15 years in bottle. Excellent, but patience required. The most enigmatic of the 2017 Vintage Ports. Total production is 8,100 cases.

Description

Characteristics and tasting advice for Fonseca's Vintage Port 2017

Tasting

Colour
Dark colour with a magenta edge.

Nose
Intense aromas of concentrated blackberries are accompanied by fresher red fruits, balanced by a subtle minerality. Vegetal, balsamic and woody cedar notes reveal themselves in the background.

Palate
In the mouth, a concentration of small black fruits unfolds, offering a velvety texture. Firm tannins and a lively acidity provide structure and energy, while the complex and powerful fruit dominates the whole.

The concentration and elegance of a Vintage Port

The estate

Founded in 1815 in Portugal, Fonseca stands out as a choice Vintage Port house. Since its foundation, five generations of the Guimaraens family have nurtured the estate with their expertise. Its classic Vintage Ports are considered very consistent in terms of style. This consistency stems not only from the continuity of family commitment and the knowledge and skills passed down from one generation to the next, but also from a close link with the vineyard. In 2006, Fonseca became the first house to offer a Port entirely made from organically grown grapes, in addition to being the only Port house to have four wines rated 100 points.

The vineyard

This Vintage Port 2017 from Fonseca is made from three quintas (Quinta de Santo António, do Cruzeiro and do Panascal), located in the Cima Corgo, an emblematic wine-growing area of the Duriense region.

Vinification and ageing

The grapes dedicated to the production of this Vintage Port are foot-trodden in the stone "lagares" of Cruzeiro and Panascal, before fermentation and ageing.

The vintage

Despite a cold and dry start to the year, bud break was early. The persistent drought in spring favoured rapid vine growth, leading to early flowering in early May. In June, extremely high temperatures accelerated veraison, which took place around 18 June, earlier than usual. Although the drought lasted until the end of September, cooler nights in August tempered the effects of the heat, and the grapes ripened early. Early harvests reveal, despite low yields, grapes with thick skins and a beautiful concentration.

Blend

Porto Blend.

From the same producer