2018 Fonseca Guimaraens

Adrian Bridge, managing director of The Fladgate Partnership commented on this wine: 'I am delighted that we will be releasing Guimaraens Vintage from 2018. The Guimaraens concept is unique. Although Guimaraens vintages share the pedigree and character of the classic Fonseca Vintage Ports, they are made in years when the wines are more approachable and can be enjoyed young. The 2018 combines the rich, ripe fruit of Quinta do Panascal in the Távora Valley and the structure and depth of the Pinhão Valley estates. The wine will be bottled in July, as usual, but owing to the current economic situation will only be released for sale early in 2021.' Head winemaker David Guimaraens, whose family give their name to this bottling, added: 'I believe that the 2018 is one of the finest recent examples of a Guimaraens Vintage. It displays the rich, dense woodland fruit which is the keynote of the Fonseca house style. But it also has the fresh acidity, sturdy, well integrated tannins and depth of flavour which are typical of the year. The Guimaraens Vintages can be enjoyed younger than the classics and the 2018 is a beautifully seductive wine which can already be drunk with great pleasure. However, we should not forget that Guimaraens Vintage Ports also have ageing potential if it is decided to lay them down. It is worth mentioning that the 2018 Vintage Ports have the highest colour intensity of recent vintages, always a sign of good extraction and longevity.' Blackish crimson. High toned and alluring on the nose. Quite a bit of structure and something suggestive of fireworks. This is the business for a vintage port! The sort of wine that would probably have qualified as a full-blooded Fonseca vintage port a few decades ago. Peppery and fiery and yet the tannins are subsumed under the fruit. We're having steak tonight and I am tempted to drink this with it. (JR)

The 2018 Guimaraens Vintage Port, the first release since 2015, has a rich and opulent bouquet with black cherries, stewed figs and dates. It has a little more warmth than the Quinta da Roeda 2018 tasted alongside, certainly one of the more decadent aromatics. The palate is sweet and fleshy on the entry with black fruit, tar, desiccated orange peel, Xmas cake and juniper berries. I admire the harmony of this Vintage Port. The firm structure only becomes apparent towards the finish. Wonderful length on the aftertaste, the mouth stained with Port for 60 seconds after. Excellent.

The 2018 Guimaraens Vintage Port is a field blend that comes in with 98 grams of residual sugar. It was aged in large wooden vats for approximately 18 months. This is essentially made like the Vintage Port, just not declared. That gets you a good price, if not quite the same quality. Still, this is a very fine Guimaraens, showing off good fruit and structure. It is a bit lean. It will be drinkable soon and hold for a few decades. It may not be the brightest star in 2060, but I predict it will still be alive and kicking. Still, I wouldn't quite treat this as a serious vin de garde.