Fonseca 2009

£390.00 In Bond (12 x 75cl)

2009 will be remembered as a year of low yields which
produced wines of massive density and scale. This was
partly the result of the small amount offruit produced
across all grape varieties and also to the very dry
summer during which there was almost no rainfall
from July through to harvest time in September.
Fonseca's head winemaker David Guimaraens
remarked: 'The '09s have higher colour intensity
and tannin levels than we have seen for the last
two decades. They also have exceptional fruit
quality as can be seen from the wonderfully
opulent nose of the Fonseca.' Blender Mario Araújo,
who celebrates his 50th year working in the Fonseca
tasting room, noted: 'This is one of the most
impressive young vintage ports that I can remember.
In many ways it reminds me of the 1970 with its firm
tannins and powerful fruit.' The Fonseca 2009 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, the first time
that the estate has contributed to a classic vintage
port blend since it was converted to organic viticulture.
The low yields at the harvest mean that the quantities
of Fonseca 2009 are small compared to the preceding
three vintages.

Tasting note
Impenetrable black colour. A classic Fonseca nose
dominated by an exuberant, hedonistic fruitiness,
a powerful redolence of dark dense blackberry and
blackcurrant which slowly releases a heady mix of
spicy and herbal aromas, seductive notes of coffee
and cocoa, hints of prune and wild scents of gumcistus.
The thick velvety tannins give the wine a wine a thick
density, integrating effortlessly with the sumptuous
infusion of blackberry jam, dark chocolate and
liquorice which coats the palate. The tannins are also
present on the finish which brims with blackberry and
blackcurrant flavours.