Fonseca Vintage 2008 Guimaraens

€ 58.00

"The 2008 Guimaraens Vintage Port is not a re-release; it has been in the marketplace, but it is a new submission for us. It comes in with 97.4 grams of sugar and 20.3% alcohol. This is pretty intense. Tight and tannic still, this is a very focused Port with fine intensity of flavor and powerful aromatics. There's a bit of cistus up front for the aromatics and a bit of a crisp edge on the finish. The fruit is certainly ripe, though, even though the mid-palate is elegant. This intense 2008 is not ready. For all of the trend toward drinking Port young, I'd say this needs around 10 more years in the cellar, depending on how you like them. (Then, if you really want complexity, you might wait until 2035 or beyond.) All that said, it drank pretty well when I tried it again 24 hours later. This is a fine selection for the cellar at a pretty nice price for a Port that is already 10 years into its aging curve." The Wine Advocate Mark Squires Tasted: April 2018

Very deep purple black with violet highlights. As would be expected of a Guimaraens Vintage Port, the first impression on the nose is of a powerful detonation of blackberry, cassis, strawberry and woodland fruit. These exuberant berry aromas are seasoned with notes of coffee, treacle and spice and surrounded by a fragrant balsamic aura of gumcistus and mint. The intense fruit flows through the palate like a thick blackcurrant coulis. The palate is supported by a taut fabric of closely woven tannins and the long finish resounds with a final blast of sumptuous ripe berry flavour.

Food-Pairing

Perfect with “Queijo da Serra”, a Stilton or other blue cheeses. Egg based desserts with “Pão de Ló” (Portuguese sponge based cake)

Grapes: Tinta Barocca, Touriga Francesa, Touriga Nacional

The 2008 winter was drier and colder than normal with only 258mm of rain falling at Pinhão between November and March. Fortunately, a wet April ensured the ground water reserves were sufficiently replenished. Flowering occurred under wet and cold conditions and as a result poor set affected all grape varieties, resulting in lower yields, but with great concentration of flavour.

The temperatures for the 2008 growing season were remarkably similar to 2007, with lower than average temperatures and a mild August. The final ripening of the grapes was greatly enhanced with rain falling between the 4th and 7th September and a further downpour just before the vintage started. Picking started on 25th September at Quinta do Panascal and on the 26th September in the Pinhão Valley.

A key characteristic of the entire vintage were the hot days combined with cold nights giving perfect weather conditions not only for the final ripening of the grapes, but also for the fermentation rates. This provided wonderful freshness of fruit, complexity and great structure.

Alcoholcontent

20%

Store & Serve

Keep horizontal, at a constant temperature away from intense direct light. Given the fact that this wine still ripes on the bottle, sediment can be formed over time, which means that the wine has to be decanted for consumption. Open 2 hours before decanting. After decanting, the wine will quickly reach its peak and will be consumed best during the day. Drink between 16º C - 18º C