Fonseca, Guimaraens Vintage Port

Very enjoyable, with a lot going on. Loaded with blackberry and dark fruits, along with violet, licorice, spice, and floral notes. A nice long finish to round it out. This was a 375 ml bottle and cost $16.99 back in the day—hard to argue with that value. I still have some older Vintage Ports resting in the cellar and will get to them in due time—no rush. NYE dinner at Anthony’s in HH was a great way to cap it …

1991 vintage

Medium garnet in color with ever-so-slight clearing at the edges. Full, forward & fragrant nose of ripe fruit aromas of dark currants, blackberries, dried figs & raisins with overtones of floral notes of violets, spices, minerals, cocoa, toffee, licorice, tea, caramel, orange peel & a touch of cedar in the background. Full bodied with a very good concentration of well balanced & smooth textured, ripe fruit flavors of blackberries, cherries & dried figs with spice notes, toffee, anise, leather, marzipan, …

1991 vintage

3 bottles

1998 vintage

Just about perfect now, from 375 ml.

1991 vintage

Split. Loud bouquet of candied cherries and strawberries, showing hints of cough syrup. Also showing nutmeg, cardamom, and cloves, and orange peel. Considerable forward heat. The wine thinned from front to back. Overall, it showed a little tired. Recommend drinking.

1991 vintage

Dark fruit and spice Spicy, liquorice on the palate, sweet ripe fruit, quite firm tannins, chocolate, opulent. Obviously needs year but lots of potential.

2022 vintage

Pristine bottle, second from a small lot of three, perfect cork. Decanted for two hours. Elegant and cedary, allspice and nutmeg, red berries and cherries, dates and plums, cardamom, top notes of rose and orange peel, caramel; delicately sweet, medium weight, lovely freshness, papery tannins, white chocolate, gentle heat on the finish, cinnamon, complete. Harmonious and elegant, wonderful complexity, lively and mature, at peak.

1991 vintage

I’m not very experienced with vintage port but I enjoyed this. Date, plums and a hint of cinnamon, fennel, mint. Could really feel the alcohol but I’m not complaining about it. I would love to have with some different pungent cheeses.

1991 vintage

Voluptuous, enveloping and generous nose of creamy blue/black fruits, especially elderberry, with great purity. Full-bodied and dense, broad, with lovely acidity giving a brightness and lift, great energy, and feels bright and vaporous, showing good energy, with some grip and tang. Lovely fruit, spicy and undulating, and very good length.

2022 vintage

No formal tasting notes taken I found this to be well balanced and lighter bodied - fully tertiary on the nose and palate but not "old". Tannins are fully resolved and in harmony. I didn't get the high alcohol others have mentioned. I doubt there's any improvement to be had but drinking well now.

1991 vintage

Delicate and supple for single quinta Port. All as it should be. In a very good place now and unlikely to improve. Drink soon.

1998 vintage

Lots of dried cherry, tart red cherry, touch of walnut, red licorice, light, elegant, some oxidative notes, slight bitter finish. Maybe opened for a while? Not in the best shape even at this age. At the winery in Villa Nova de Gaia.

1998 vintage

17,0p (+) Doft mognad, fikon, mynta, choklad, aning dill, smak utvecklad, söt, mint, tät, vanilj, röda bär, långt slut, 2020-30

1998 vintage

Rocha 1937, S. Leonardo 40YO, Graham’s 2000 & More - Sammamish Port Club (Sammamish, Washington) : Cloudy amber-brown in color, showing clear signs of maturity. The nose is complex, with layers of old wood, oxidation, and a mix of Christmas spices, milk chocolate, and subtle herbal tones. Light acidity adds some lift to the structure, though the wine has a dense, mouth-coating texture. The palate is both rich and delicate, with a soft, aged character. The finish fades gently giving …

1991 vintage

1970-2000 Fonseca Vintage Ports Vertical (Palo Alto, California) : Nose: 92; Palate: 91 My #5; Group's #4; Tasted blind

1991 vintage

Rich fig and date mature fruit flavours with burnt caramel. Alcohol is dominating, suggesting it will not keep much longer. Very enjoyable seasonal treat with home made Christmas cake

1991 vintage

Colour: medium garnet Nose: medium intensity, tertiary, developed. Blackcurrant jam, black plum, black cherry. Dried fig, orange peel. Milk chocolate. Cigar box, cedar, nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice. High alcohol quite prominent. Palate: sweet, medium tannins, medium(+) acidity, high alcohol (20,5%), full bodied. Medium(+) intensity, long finish. Blackcurrant jam, black plum, black cherry. Dried fig, orange peel. Milk chocolate. Cigar box, cedar, nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice. High alcohol prominent, but less than on the nose. Conclusions: very good! Guimaraens is typically made in …

1991 vintage

Ripe Figs, Prunes, Nut undertones, good richness, still remaining residual acidity balancing sugar and high but fully resolved smooth tannins. Drink now.

1998 vintage

Colour: intense ruby heading towards garnet Nose: medium intensity, tertiary, developed. Blackberry, blackcurrant jam, black cherry. Strawberry jam? Raisins, dried figs. Cedar, nutmeg, cocoa. Tobacco, leather, dried hay, and maybe earth. High alcohol quite noticeable. Palate: sweet, medium tannins, medium(+) acidity, high alcohol (20,5%), full bodied. Medium(+) intensity, long finish. Blackberry, blackcurrant jam, black cherry. Strawberry jam? Raisins, dried figs. Cedar, nutmeg, cocoa. Tobacco, leather, dried hay, and maybe earth. Some pungency from alcohol, but less than on the nose. …

2001 vintage

from 375ml bottle that I bought in 2006 for $22, per my records. Color is medium ruby and indicates in a period to consume. Has a nose reminiscent of some 1980's VP's, woody, licorice but not TCA. While the palate has still has some tannins, the fruit is fully matured and into its secondary phases now. Light complexity and ready to drink, at least from 1/2 bottle. 88 Points

1998 vintage

Winefield's pre-sale tasting: Lovely mint and dark fruit, a very modest sweetness, persistent in the midtaste, not firm, but elegant; I like the dry Fonseca style.

1998 vintage

Slightly disappointing but still a nicely aged wine. Plenty of milk chocolate and walnuts with a touch of licorice and spices. For me, it had been better 3-5 years ago and there is a slight off-balance in the wine.

1991 vintage

ok

1991 vintage

Sammamish Port Club - September 2022 (Seattle, Washington) : 375ml bottle. Amber in color with some preliminary Browning. There is some light funk on the nose, reminiscent of Douro Brake. However, the funky nose blew off as the wine got more air. Chocolate and some cherry on the palate. A bit of astringency on the finish.

1991 vintage

Nice wine! But extrem amounts of deposits.

2001 vintage

(cellardoor w ZM, DY) Savoury nose, compote and leather. Fermenting cocoa. Sour cherries, white pepper. Crusty dry earth, wood spices, high acid clean finish. Prunes. Burnt raisin, complex, atypical .

1998 vintage

Full and very sweet. Raisin and other dry fruit.

2001 vintage

Monthly tasting club "The Tasting Club" 2022-1; Vintage Port (@ RvD by PvL) : Soft and ripe bouquet with plums and raisins. On the palate chocolate, sweet spices, full bodied and round with good acidity, but also a bit alcoholic in the finish. 90 - 91

2001 vintage

gav t Marianne, Mikael, Jonas o Dean som julklapp

2001 vintage

Some fruit left but this is mostly tertiary now. Not complete harmony but very good and interesting for the price. Don’t think it will improve further. Less sweetness now and a prefer enjoying it on its own.

2001 vintage

Colour ruby red. On the nose warm spices; cinnamon, muscot. Almond pastry. Sweet and earthy. On the palate sweet and spicy; very nice and promising. However some fiery alcohol heat remains, that hampers the overall impression. I'll let this lie for quite a while.

2001 vintage

Amongst the best bottles of this six pack. Loaded with anis, milk chocolate and strawberry liquor. The nose is wonderful and has savory elements that sit along side the sweet notes. Medium bodied with a somewhat creamy feel. For Noah is a bit short with a brief hint of tobacco. Overall very good if not truly special. I like the QPR. (91)

1991 vintage

Deep dark center, dark red rim with modest signs of age. Sweet blackberry liquor, black cherries, a little earthy, some alcohol. Smooth, blackberries and blackcurrants, sweet, intense, good acidity, modest tannins, great finish. Excellent Fonseca, a wonderful contrast from the first 2 bottles, intense blackberry fruit, great balance, good now. Fingers crossed for the last bottle.

1998 vintage

I loved this port. Lots of life left in it but just delicious tonight. My last bottle, double decanted it. Wonderful aromas and flavors. Lots of cooking spice notes [cinnamon, nutmeg and Chinese spice], orange notes and nutty touches as well. There fruit on the palette was more present than in the aroma and there was just a touch of caramel, which I love as tawny ports are my favorite style of port. I do wish I had more of …

1991 vintage

Deep red center, red rim with signs of age. Sweet, over ripe blackberries, blueberries, warm stones. Smooth, milk chocolate, iron, blueberries, alcohol, good acidity, rancio, leafy, creme du mure finish. Much better than previous bottle, only concern is a lack of richness (and a quite dry presentation overall). Drinking well now.

1998 vintage

Very ssmoth and soft textures and aromas of raisins, prunes and figs and hints of vanilla, chocolate and caramel. The palate displays fruit concentrations, good acidity and long length.

1998 vintage

Deep red center, red rim with some signs of age. Chocolate, burned sugar, stewed prunes, iron, ripe berries. Smooth and sweet, white chocolate, touch of green, ripe plums, some blueberries, good length if a little dirty. Okay port. Taste is better than the nose. Worry about the history. Just noticed that the bottles have a 15 cent Maine redemption sticker. How did these bottles get to California?

1998 vintage

Good, not great port. Ruby color with a mature rim. The nose is full of lush, good’n’plenty soaked ripe fruit. Sweet, open palate that is followed by a slightly alcoholic, coffee and fig tinged finish. Missing the energy and tension of great port but a nice drink. Drink soon - like this winter. (88)

1991 vintage

huge sediment. Hint of mahogany at the edge. Dark berry, chocolate, earthiness. Mellowing. From 375.

1991 vintage

From 375 ml. Medium+ red with a thin brick edge. Brown sugar, Saskatoon berry and a green element. Of course it is sweet and it has proper acid plus tannin to carry the strawberry jam, chocolate and menthol flavours. Finish is a little bitter, possibly from the alcohol. Lovely.

1991 vintage

Method: 62.5 degrees; 3.5 hour decant; cab glass Look: medium ruby/tawny; very slow legs Nose: espresso, dried fig, burnt caramel, cocoa, orange liquor / burt orange peel; walnut, faint dusty leather Palate: cherry, fig, tobacco, cocoa, espresso, orange peel, leather; medium- finish of espresso then a touch of cherry; full body; smooth, viscous; just very slight heat (less than expected); med- sweetness; medium acid Overall thoughts: Great up front fruit, followed by very complex layers of flavor. Full, luscious body, …

1991 vintage

Best after open a couple days. Black fruit, coffee, menthol, cough medicine. Medium sweet. Huge sediment - needs decanting.

1991 vintage

Just amazing.

1998 vintage

Opened a few days ago. Remains chewy. Anise on the nose. Anise in mouth along with stewed cherries and some nutmeg. Very nice for the age.

1991 vintage

A lot of sediment when decanted, this was showing good balance. Evolved in a nice way, vivid and energetic, showing mostly tertiary aromas with good definition and focus. A decently priced aged vintage port that is definitely a 'buy again'.

1998 vintage

Light, mature red brick color. Classic, creamy anise and sweet red fruit nose. No embellishments - classic. The attack is pure, sweet and perfectly balanced. There is a strong tobacco note that takes over on the finish. This is really quite good - only the finish keeps it from being outstanding. Drink soon. (91)

1991 vintage

Past its prime

1986 vintage

Tasted after 1999 Fonseca Quinta do Panascal. Again dried fruit, nuts, spices, leather on the nose. A little less intense and blunt, more elegant, with good freshness and finesse. Fine length. 90-92

1998 vintage

This port is in very good shape, from the youthful bouquet wit dark fruit, to the lively spicy and creamy taste. The aftertaste is very balanced with the Fonseca modest sweetness and ripe tannins. The next 10 years you don't have to hurry with this port.

1991 vintage

Second Sunday Group: 2015 Burgundy (Augie's) : Courtesy of our hosts. Chocolate, dark fruit and cassis notes. Medium-bodied, with flavors of red plum, cherry, cassis, chocolate and graham cracker. Long finish. Excellent.

1991 vintage

Are you sure?

Fonseca, Guimaraens Vintage Port

Vintages

No vintages

Community Reviews