“…anyone with an interest in superbly made top-quality red wine worth ageing for decades should arguably turn their backs on Bordeaux 2012 and look instead at Port 2011…""
Jancis Robinson, 2013.
Fonseca Vintage Port 2011
Fonseca belongs in the first rank of Vintage Port houses. It is recognised for the stylistic consistency of its wines which have been made by five generations of the Guimaraens family since the firm’s foundation in 1815. Fonseca Vintage Ports are noted for their expressive, luscious fruitiness, which develops great opulence and complexity with age, as well as a voluptuous roundness on the palate supported by velvety mouth-filling tannins.
Fonseca Vintage Ports are often the preferred choice of the enthusiast and connoisseur, wines born of inspired and passionate winemaking and a thorough understanding of viticulture and terroir.
Fonseca Vintage Ports are produced from grapes grown on the firm’s own estates or ‘quintas’. The most famous of these is Quinta do Panascal, a historic property long recognised as the source of some of the finest wines in the Douro Valley.
Fonseca Vintage Ports are produced from grapes grown on the firm’s own estates or ‘quintas’. The most famous of these is Quinta do Panascal, a historic property long recognised as the source of some of the finest wines in the Douro Valley.
The Fonseca 2011 blend is based on wines from Quinta do Panascal and Quinta do Cruzeiro. There is also a small amount of wine from Quinta de Santo António.
Commenting on the 2011s, Fonseca’s Managing Director Adrian Bridge noted: “The excellent ripening conditions leading up to the 2011 harvest have produced beautifully balanced, classic Vintage Ports and the Fonseca 2011 is no exception. It is showing the dense black fruit character which is typical of Fonseca Vintage Ports but there is also plenty of complexity and finesse.”
Winemaker David Guimaraens, remarked: “The ripening season was hot and dry but the vineyards had plentiful reserves of ground water built up during the previous winter. This meant that the vines were never stressed and produced a perfectly ripened crop, yielding wonderfully balanced and complete wines. The quality of the fruit in the Fonseca 2011 is exceptional as well as the beautifully integrated tannins which give the wine both volume and structure.”
The beginning of the year was marked by cold wet conditions. During the five months from November to April, almost 500 millimetres of rain fell at Pinhão in the heart of the Cima Corgo area. The winter and spring rainfall was critical as it replenished the depleted ground water reserves ahead of what was to be a very dry ripening season. The first buds appeared, as expected, around the third weekend in March and warm, wet conditions in April encouraged vigorous growth. From 1st May to 21st August warm and very dry conditions prevailed, with a short wave of very high temperatures in late June. However the abundant ground water allowed the formation of perfect bunches and balanced ripening of the grapes. Some well timed rainfall on 21st August and 1st September rounded off the maturation.
The first Fonseca property to start picking was Quinta do Panascal in the Távora Valley, where the first grapes were picked on 13th September. Quinta do Cruzeiro in the Pinhão Valley followed soon afterwards on 15th September. Picking began in the organic vineyards of Quinta do Santo António, Fonseca’s other Pinhão Valley estate, ten days later on 25th September. Wines on all properties were powerfully aromatic and showed remarkable depth of colour.
Commenting on the 2011s, Fonseca’s Managing Director Adrian Bridge noted: “The excellent ripening conditions leading up to the 2011 harvest have produced beautifully balanced, classic Vintage Ports and the Fonseca 2011 is no exception. It is showing the dense black fruit character which is typical of Fonseca Vintage Ports but there is also plenty of complexity and finesse.”
Winemaker David Guimaraens, remarked: “The ripening season was hot and dry but the vineyards had plentiful reserves of ground water built up during the previous winter. This meant that the vines were never stressed and produced a perfectly ripened crop, yielding wonderfully balanced and complete wines. The quality of the fruit in the Fonseca 2011 is exceptional as well as the beautifully integrated tannins which give the wine both volume and structure.”
The beginning of the year was marked by cold wet conditions. During the five months from November to April, almost 500 millimetres of rain fell at Pinhão in the heart of the Cima Corgo area. The winter and spring rainfall was critical as it replenished the depleted ground water reserves ahead of what was to be a very dry ripening season. The first buds appeared, as expected, around the third weekend in March and warm, wet conditions in April encouraged vigorous growth. From 1st May to 21st August warm and very dry conditions prevailed, with a short wave of very high temperatures in late June. However the abundant ground water allowed the formation of perfect bunches and balanced ripening of the grapes. Some well timed rainfall on 21st August and 1st September rounded off the maturation.
The first Fonseca property to start picking was Quinta do Panascal in the Távora Valley, where the first grapes were picked on 13th September. Quinta do Cruzeiro in the Pinhão Valley followed soon afterwards on 15th September. Picking began in the organic vineyards of Quinta do Santo António, Fonseca’s other Pinhão Valley estate, ten days later on 25th September. Wines on all properties were powerfully aromatic and showed remarkable depth of colour.
DOWNLOAD PDF
DOWNLOAD IMAGES
TASTING NOTES
Intense black inky core and narrow purple rim. The nose opens onto a dense brooding mass of dark blackberry and blackcurrant fruit. Compact and concentrated, it also displays exceptional purity – one of the hallmarks of the 2011 vintage. The nose gradually opens to reveal an array of heady herbal scents, discreet notes of exotic wood, marzipan and plum as well as an attractive graphite minerality. Solid well integrated tannins give both volume and firmness to the palate with its reserves of dense black fruit infused with dark chocolate and liquorice. A vigourous, concentrated fruit-driven Vintage Port, showing the classic opulence of Fonseca.
Jancis Robinson, www.purplepages.com – May 2013
Heady, opulent nose. Completely enveloping, Smells as though there is going to be the most fabulous texture...
Heady, opulent nose. Completely enveloping, Smells as though there is going to be the most fabulous texture. Wow! All stops pulled out for this one. It's all absolutely gorgeous intensity of sweet fruit on the front palate and then gradually the schist and structure reveal themselves. This is really wonderful stuff. So tempting to sip it decades before it is ready.
19.5 points
Neal Martin, Erobertparker.com – May 2013
The Fonseca 2011 is typically more forthcoming on the nose compared to the bashful Croft: a strident bouquet with lifted scents of freshly picked blackberries, kirsch, crushed stone and a dash of Hoi Sin and oyster sauce.
The Fonseca 2011 is typically more forthcoming on the nose compared to the bashful Croft: a strident bouquet with lifted scents of freshly picked blackberries, kirsch, crushed stone and a dash of Hoi Sin and oyster sauce. It is very well-defined, very focused and direct. The palate is silky smooth with not a rough edge in sight, though not a typically voluptuous Fonseca because of the keen thread of acidity and the structure that lends this mighty Port wonderful backbone. A slight viscosity on the finish lacquers the tongue and indicates a core of sweet fruit is ticking away underneath that will surely explode several years after bottling. A tincture of salted licorice on the aftertaste is very attractive. This will turn out to become an outstanding Fonseca, the growing season taming its exuberance with spectacular results. So much potential.
97-99 Points
James Suckling, May 2013
Very grapy and leafy with hints of spices on the nose. Full body, medium sweet with fine, chewy tannins.
Very grapy and leafy with hints of spices on the nose. Full body, medium sweet with fine, chewy tannins. Powerful, long finish with nuts and shaved chocolate. This young Fonseca has grip. 6,000 cases produced of this foot-trodden wine.
95 Points
Derek Smedley MW, May 2013
The nose is perfumed floral with violets and rock roses all backed by hints of pine needles and cedar wood.
The nose is perfumed floral with violets and rock roses all backed by hints of pine needles and cedar wood. The palate has depth of flavour rich and succulent fruit lots of ripe sweet black fruits deep profound and brooding yet there is a lighter feel at the back an elegant charm and a lovely long flowing finish.
99 Points