Fonseca’s three vineyards—Quinta do Panascal, Quinta de Cruzeiro and Quinta de Santo António—all form the backbone of Fonseca’s Late Bottled Vintage Portos, produced in excellent years when a general vintage is not declared. In the winery, the newly developed, robotic “Port Toes” technology for treading the grapes allows the winery to maximize the quality of the fruit by imitating the traditional action of human feet and avoiding damage to the bitter grape seeds. Fermentation is halted by the addition of grape spirits before all the residual sugar has been fermented, creating a sweet, fortified wine. The wine is then matured in neutral oak and bottled without filtration to allow further evolution in the bottle.

Harvest Note
The winter period was extremely dry. Moreover, the rainfall during the growing season was also well below average, bringing little relief from the dry conditions. The temperatures between April and June were higher than normal, with average daily temperatures 1.6ºC higher compared with the 10-year average and temperatures above 40ºC recorded on several days in the last week of June and early July. Véraison came particularly early in 2015 across the Douro region, starting in the week of the 29th June, and set the scene for what was to be an early harvest. Although August continued dry, weather conditions were much milder, without any heatwaves, and as a result the bunches were very well preserved. Picking started on the between 7th-12th of September, with warm days and cool nights allowing for good long fermentations. Harvest continued to make very fine Ports right up to the end of the harvest on the 3rd October.
Tasting Note
Deep ruby red at the centre fading to a red brick rim. A seductive nose of rich, ripe fruit, with aromas of blackcurrant jam, prune, sultana and fig, blended with notes of liquorice and coffee and wild herbal hints. The palate, which is full of ripe fruit flavour, has a supple, velvety texture supported by a taut sinew of tannin and a thread of lively acidity. A perfectly mature and beautifully balanced Late Bottled Vintage, with the classic Fonseca roundness and opulence, drinking beautifully now.
Food Pairing
Fonseca LBV is the perfect finish to any meal. Excellent with fully flavoured cheeses, especially blue cheeses such as Stilton or Roquefort. It is also delicious with desserts made with chocolate or berry fruits.
Technical Data
GRAPES: Touriga Nacional, Touriga Francesa, Tinto Cão, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Barroca
PH: 3.7
ACIDITY: 4.26 g/l
ABV: 20%
AGING: Aged in wood vats of 50 pipes capacity and then bottled after five years.
RESIDUAL SUGAR: 102 g/l
Unique Selling Points
  • A Late Bottled Vintage Porto made from fruit from Fonseca’s own estate vineyards.
  • Produced in high quality vintages in which a general vintage is not declared.
  • Similar characteristics of vintage Porto, but is ready to drink sooner than vintage.

About the Grape

Tinta Amarela
Tinta Amarela makes wines with intensely perfumed aromas of blackberry and tea, bold structure, deep color and excellent depth.
Tinta Barroca
Used to make Port wines, this high yielding grape has very high sugar content, which makes wines with pronounced floral character, good structure and firm, ripe tannins.
Tinta Cão
This grape has blackberry, game and meaty aromas, and contributes longevity and exceptional elegance to the blend of Port wines.
Tinta Roriz
Tinta Roriz produces deep-colored grapes of moderate acidity which make bold wines with firm tannins, excellent complexity and distinctive resin-like fragrance.
Touriga Franca
This grape has high tannins and is very aromatic; it lends structure and balance to Port wines. It shows intense fresh red fruit, earth and flower aromas, and is very fruity on the palate.
Touriga Nacional
Touriga Nacional produces wine with finesse, body and warmth that is dark, concentrated, massively tannic and aromatic. It ages to show the complex aromas typically found in mature vintage port.
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