Fonseca Guimaraens Vintage Port 2012

Description

Fonseca Guimaraens Vintage Port is Fonseca’s equivalent of a Single Quinta Port. A Port made in the same way as a vintage Port but in an undeclared vintage. Whereas Single Quinta Ports come from a single property, Guimaraens is made from grapes sourced from three of Fonseca’s properties.

Fonseca Guimaraens Port is somewhat earlier maturing than Fonseca’s vintage Ports and offers great value whilst demonstrating the true Fonseca character and style.

Fonseca Guimaraens Vintage Port

In the early 1950’s, the rising demand for vintage ports led Fonseca to create a second vintage port under the “Fonseca Guimaraens” label in non-classic, or undeclared years. The grapes for Fonseca Guimaraens Port are sourced from Fonseca’s three Quintas, which cover some 170 acres.

Fonseca Quintas

• Quinta do Panascal – Fonseca’s flagship property, acquired in 1978, has been supplying grapes to Fonseca for many decades. It is situated on the steep right bank of the Távora, in the parish of Valença do Douro. It was one of the very first vineyards in the Douro to practise organic viticulture.
• Quinta de Santo António – occupies an open west-facing slope, leading down to the Pinhão River about a kilometre north of Quinta do Cruzeiro.
• Quinta do Cruzeiro – situated near the village of Vale de Mendiz, on the eastern bank of the river Pinhão. Acquired in 1973, it had been supplying grapes to Fonseca since the 1870s.

All three properties are A-rated and were purchased by the firm in the 1970s. The former two had been under contract to Fonseca in the early 1900s.

Fonseca Guimaraens Winemaking

• Hand-picked grapes are sourced from Fonseca’s own Quintas in the Cima Corgo sub-region.
• The blend includes classic Port varieties: Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Cão, and Tinta Barroca.
• Destemmed grapes are placed in traditional granite lagares at Quinta do Cruzeiro and Quinta do Panascal.
• Gentle extraction is achieved through traditional foot-treading.
• Fermentation begins with natural (native) yeasts.
• Fermentation is stopped (“fortified”) by adding grape spirit to preserve sweetness and reach around 20% ABV.
• The young Port matures briefly in the Douro Valley before being transferred to the lodges in Vila Nova de Gaia for extended ageing.
• The wine is matured in large wooden vats or oak casks, expertly blended, and bottled unfiltered after 18 – 24 months to continue developing in the bottle.

About The 2012 Vintage

“The dry winter and cool spring led to low yields and immense aromatic intensity, to which the fresh ripening season added fresh acidity and purity of fruit. The 2012 displays the rich berry fruit character we expect from Vintage Guimaraens, coupled with an attractive freshness and finesse typical of the year.” Winemaker David Guimaraens.

Fonseca: Since 1822

The Fonseca Port House was established in 1822 when Manoel Pedro Gonçalves Guimaraens and his brother João Gonçalves Salgueiro acquired control of the Fonseca and Monteiro Company from the Fonseca Family. The Fonseca family insisted that their name was retained as part of the sale, and the company was renamed Fonseca, Guimaraens & Co.

By the 20th century, Fonseca had risen to prominence, producing iconic Vintage Ports like 1900, 1927, and 1948. In 1948, it was acquired by Taylor Fladgate & Yeatman, boosting its global presence while retaining its distinct, fruit-driven style. David Guimaraens, the great-great-great-grandson of the founder Manuel Pedro, has been the head winemaker since 1994. He is also the master blender for the other Taylor Fladgate Port Houses: Taylors, Croft and Delaforce.