Fonseca Traditionally Announces Whether It Will Make A New Vintage Port Release on Saint George’s Day
NEW YORK, April 23, 2024 – On Saint George’s Day, Fonseca announces the release of the 2022 Guimaraens Vintage Port.
Revealing this year’s decision, Fonseca’s Managing Director, Adrian Bridge says: “I am delighted to say that we will be making a limited bottling of the 2022 Guimaraens Vintage Port. The 2022 is showing the characteristic aromatic opulence and voluptuous ripe black fruit character, that are the hallmarks of the Guimaraens vintage style.”
David Guimaraens, Fonseca’s Head Winemaker, adds: “2022 will stand out for being a remarkably dry year with a series of heatwaves. It will also be remembered for the year that we were able to reintroduce our foot treading, which due to COVID had not happened for the previous two vintages. The Ports made on the Fonseca estates were outstanding, allowing us to produce a very fine Guimaraens vintage blend, full bodied and packed with dense berry fruit flavour. A true time capsule of the year.”
Guimaraens Vintage Ports are made in certain years when a classic Fonseca Vintage is not declared. They are blended from the best produce of the firm’s Pinhão Valley estates, Cruzeiro and Santo António, and Fonseca’s flagship property, Quinta do Panascal, on the right bank of the Távora. Approachable when young, they are an excellent choice for early drinking but have the depth and stamina to mature in bottle.
TASTING NOTES
A distinctive magenta rim surrounds an opaque purple, almost black core. The nose opens with a surge of powerful and intense woodland berry aromas, rich and juicy with hints of cassis, blackberry and wild strawberries. Notes of apricot emerge as the wine opens up in the glass, followed by warmer notes of cedar, spice, dark chocolate and that opulent fruit character that defines the Fonseca style.
On the palate these lush berry fruit aromas are enveloped by an aura of wild herbs, star anise, raspberry leaf, cocoa nibs and a delicious touch of tangerine peel.
The wine’s silky texture conceals the firm, well knit tannins which emerge on the finish to provide an attractive firmness and grip. A seductive Vintage Port which is drinking beautifully now.
NOTES ON THE 2022 VITICULTURAL YEAR AND HARVEST
The dormancy period between November and February was extremely dry, with only 78mm of rainfall recorded. The average for this period is much more in the order of 370 mm. Fortunately, March was wet with 75mm of rain which was very important for the growing season to start with some water.
Bud burst occurred on the 20th March which is later than normal and Spring was dry. When flowering started on the 19th May, we continued to register very low levels of water – 195mm to be exact from the previous November to the 31st May. Because of the dry conditions, we had very little pressure from disease, which meant that the key focus in the vineyards was dedicated to working the canopies. At the beginning of June we entered a phase of the first of many heat waves with temperatures of over 40 degrees Celsius recorded – this is very unusual for June. On the 14th July in Pinhão we recorded a temperature of 46.5c (115.7 Fahrenheit), the highest temperature recorded in the country in 2022. As a result of the extreme temperatures, veraison only occurred in the last week of July.
Harvest started on the 7th September at Quinta do Panascal, 10th September at Quinta do Cruzeiro and 18th September at Quinta do Santo António, with the vines producing very small berries, which gave them a good juice to skin ratio. On the 6th September we had a very welcome four millimeters of rainfall which kept the temperatures down and gave some very welcome relief to the vines and did a great job in giving the grapes that all important final push.
2022 will be remembered for the year that we were able to foot tread again, after two years interruption due to COVID. Seeing the lagares full of people again and knowing that this is the way great vintage ports are made, was a sight to behold.
About Fonseca
Fonseca belongs in the first league of vintage port houses. Few port producers have maintained such consistency of quality and style from vintage to vintage. From the legendary 1840, Fonseca’s first Vintage Port release, to the superb declared vintages of the last decade, the house has produced a succession of highly acclaimed wines even in the most adverse moments of history. This consistency derives not only from continuity of family involvement, and the knowledge and skill passed down from one generation to the next, but also a close link with the vineyard. The firm’s three estates of Cruzeiro, Panascal and Santo António are the heart of the distinctive character of Fonseca’s Vintage Ports. Fonseca’s respect for the vineyard and the unique environment of the Douro Valley expresses itself in the firm’s leadership in the field of sustainable and organic viticulture. It was the first house to offer a Port made entirely from organically produced grapes.
About Kobrand Corporation
Founded in 1944, Kobrand Corporation remains one of the few family-owned wine and spirits companies in the United States. Kobrand’s portfolio was meticulously selected according to a single, unerring principle: quality. This continued focus has made the Kobrand name synonymous with wines and spirits of the highest calibre for 75 years. Kobrand is the exclusive agent for an outstanding selection of fine wines, spirits, and sakes from key regions around the world, including the United States, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Japan, Chile, Argentina, and New Zealand. For more information about Kobrand and the portfolio, visit http://www.
