Vintageport.se

Est. 2011

Fonseca

Fonseca Guimaraens - Vinhos SA

Founded 1822
Owner Fladgate Partnership (Taylor-Fonseca Group)
Vineyards Quinta do Panascal, Quinta do Santo António, Quinta do Cruzeiro, Quinta do Val dos Muros (bought in 1985)
Vintage Port Brands Fonseca, Fonseca Guimaraens, Quinta do Panascal, Quinta do Mileu

The prehistory of the firm of Fonseca Guimaraens lies in the late 1700s, in a company known as Fonseca & Monteiro, located in Oporto. The Fonseca family was of Brazilian origin, and conducted its trade in wine, foodstuffs, olive oil and cloth primarily with Brazil in exchange for sugar cane, hemp and snuff from the colonies.

The present firm, however, was not formally founded until 1822, when Manuel Pedro Guimaraens acquired control of the company through purchase of the majority of the Fonseca holdings. Born on June 6th, 1798, in the town of Sao Romão da Ucha, Barcelos, Manuel Pedro travelled extensively to Brazil, both for his own account and that of Fonseca & Monteiro. By the 1820s, Fonseca & Monteiro dealt solely in Port wines. As a condition of the sale of his shares to young Guimaraens, the departing Fonseca stipulated that his name be retained not only as a brand name, but also as a family name for whoever should own the business. Records of the company's early years under ‘MPG’, as he is affectionately called by his descendants, were largely destroyed during the years of political upheaval which plagued Portugal until the mid-1830s. It is known that Angelica Monteiro and Joao dos Santos Fonseca held some interest in the company until the beginning of that decade. More, however, is known about Manuel Pedro Guimaraens' political activities. By age 21 he had already become deeply involved in the liberal movement which swept Europe in the wake of the French Revolution of 1789. When the civil war known as ‘The War of Two Brothers’, broke out between the reigning absolutist, Dom Miguel, and supporters of his liberalist brother, Dom Pedro, Manuel Pedro was already a close friend and ally of the liberal militant leaders in northern Portugal. Forced to flee the country several times, in 1834 he departed Portugal for the last time, smuggled aboard a ship bound for London in an empty port pipe. Exiled in London, he continued his advocacy of the Liberal cause before the Court of Saint James and Parliament, and organized a system through which funds could secretly be channeled from Portugal to Portuguese political refugees throughout Europe. The success of the liberal revolution of 1832 was so greatly aided by Manuel Pedro's contribution that in 1835, Portugal's new queen, Dona Maria da Gloria II, named him Member and later Knight Commander of the Order of Christ. Though by this time married to a British woman and permanently settled in London, Manuel Pedro Guimaraens never relinquished his Portuguese citizenship. Still staunchly patriotic, he divided the hours not devoted to Fonseca, Monteiro & Guimaraens among politics, lavish entertaining and an expertise on pelargonium, which led him to become one of the early members of the Royal Botanical Society. The headquarters of his rapidly expanding company were moved to London.

The firm shipped its first vintage port, the 1847, to England. In 1862, following Manuel Pedro's death in 1858, Manuel Fonseca and his two younger brothers, Pedro Gonçalves and Fredrico Alexandre, bought out the Monteiro interest and amalgamated the British and Portuguese branches of the firm, which for political reasons had until then been separated and named it M.P. Guimaraens & Sons.

While Quinta de Terra Feita was under contract with Fonseca to supply port, the 1909 and 1911 vintages were released under the Quinta de Terra Feita label and not under a Fonseca label. In 1927 the London office was dissolved and the headquarters re-established in Portugal. 1931 is considered to be the first vintage under the Fonseca-Guimaraens label. 1931 was also sold as Fonseca Special Reserve and the vintages 1933 and 1934 were released under both Fonseca and Fonseca-Guimaraens labels. However, after that, the company decided to use just one label for each vintage year.

Over the next two decades, the exceptional consistency and worldwide reputation for quality of Fonseca Ports was perpetuated by Patrick Guimaraens, who remained the company's promoter in London, and his cousin Frank Guimaraens, who controlled production in Vila Nova de Gaia.

In 1948, the difficulties of the war years led to a consolidation of ownership of Fonseca Guimaraens with Taylor, Fladgate & Yeatman.

Fonseca may indeed be unique in the annals of Port in that every Fonseca Vintage Port, with the exception of the 1955, produced by Dorothy Guimaraens, was made by one of three persons: Frank Guimaraens, from the 1896 through the 1948 vintage; and Bruce Duncan Guimaraens, Winemaker and greatgreat grandson of the founder, from the 1960 vintage to 1995 when his son David took over. This remarkable continuity of winemaker is clearly evident in the wine. Consistency of style has remained one of the fundamental principles of the Fonseca philosophy since its founding.

It must be remembered that Fonseca-Guimaraens is not a single quinta vintages, but a blend from the same quinta as the classic Fonseca vintage come from and made in years which are not classic.

The Fladgate Partnership company always declare their Vintage Ports on St George’s day (23 April).

The Quinta do Cruzeiro has for decades been the heart of Fonseca's vintage ports. In 1973, the company purchased this superb property from the heirs of the recently deceased proprietor. They have also started making a Single Quinta Vintage port from this quinta.

In 1978 Fonseca acquired the Quinta do Panascal, a substantial property located in the spectacularly beautiful Tavora Valley to the south of the Douro River.

The third Fonseca property, the Quinta de Santo Antonio, has also long been a traditional source for Fonseca's vintage ports and was purchased in 1979.

Fonseca Vintages:1817, 1821, 1834, 1840, 1844, 1846, 1847, 1851, 1854, 1863, 1865, 1868, 1870, 1872, 1873, 1878, 1881, 1884, 1887, 1890, 1892*, 1896, 1900, 1904, 1906*, 1908, 1912, 1920, 1922, 1924, 1927, 1931, 1933, 1934, 1937*, 1942, 1943, 1945, 1946*, 1947* (bottled in Belgium), 1948, 1949* (bottled in Belgium), 1955, 1960, 1963, 1966, 1970, 1975, 1977, 1980, 1983, 1985, 1992, 1994, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2016, 2017
Fonseca Guimaraens Vintages:1884, 1919, 1931, 1933, 1934*, 1937*, 1942, 1944, 1946, 1947, 1952, 1954, 1957, 1958, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1978, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1991, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2018, 2019
Quinta do Panascal Vintages:1906 (Bottled by George Sotheby), 1977, 1978, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1991, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2008
Quinta do Cruzeiro Vintages:1978, 1982
Quinta do Milieu Vintages:1944, 1946, 1947, 1958

Vintage Port tasting notes:

HouseFonsecaVintage1934
ColourMature beautiful tawny in colour.Number of tastings3
BouquetVery complex bouquet of coffee, tea, old grocery shop and much more.Score range16.75 - 17.50
TasteMedium body. Mature. Elegant burned sugar in flavour. Wonderful finish. An unbelievable port.Average score17.08
Last tasted20th September 2007Point this date17.50
CommentAt the Wine Society 18% tasting in Malmö.
TastersSAI, JB, SS
HouseFonsecaVintage1945
ColourBrilliant, beautiful and mature in colour.Number of tastings1
BouquetComplex and attractive bouquet of coffee, raisin, tea and much more.Score range
TasteFull-bodied. Mature and on top. Crème caramel in taste. Complex and balanced finish. An unbelievable port.Average score
Last tasted10th June 1998Point this date17.50
CommentAt the Wine Society 18% tasting in Malmö.
TastersSAI
HouseFonsecaVintage1947
ColourDark yellow mature in colour.Number of tastings1
BouquetBoysenberry, dried fruit, melon, red and dark berry in the nose.Score range17.00 - 17.00
TasteAlmost full-bodied. Mature and peaking. Boysenberry and some mushroom in the taste. Elegant, balanced, complex and very attractive port with a quite long finish. Very good indeed.Average score
Last tasted18th April 2013Point this date17.00
CommentAt the Wine Society 18% tasting in Malmö.
This Fonseca was given from the private cellar of Bruce Guimaraens to a member of the Wine Society 18% belonging to %, Ander G. Åkesson Collection.. It was bottled in London by Berry Bros.

In 2013 this vintage took part in a Great Tasting in the Wine Society 18%. For points and ranking see Great Tastings.
TastersSAI, JB, SS
HouseFonsecaVintage1948
ColourBeautiful, yellow and mature in colour.Number of tastings1
BouquetEnormous bouquet of roasted coffee, tea, crème caramel, crème candy, violets, some liquorice and much, much more in the nose.Score range18.00 - 19.75
TasteFull bodied. Mature and peaking. Balanced and quite sweet with plenty of violets, roasted coffee, cream candy, liquorice and much of other things in the mouth with an excellent, long, attractive and intensive finish which makes it all heavenly. What a port!Average score18.88
Last tasted24th February 2024Point this date18.00
CommentTasted at home with the family.
This bottle belongs to Gerda and Ole Vesterdal Private Collection.
TastersSAI, SS
HouseFonsecaVintage1955
ColourStill quite dark but mature, yellow in colour.Number of tastings8
BouquetTobaccos, violet, fudge but also toffee and Christmas raisin. Some thought that it was some cockiness in the nose.Score range15.00 - 18.90
TasteAlmost full-bodied. Mature. Sweet with liquorice and fudge in the taste. Balanced and no cork in taste but not as elegant and balanced as we are used to. This bottle is not OK but no problem to enjoy and drink it anyhow! Astonishing finish.Average score17.88
Last tasted16th November 2017Point this date15.00
CommentAt the Wine Society 18% Great Tasting in Malmö.
This bottle belongs to Gerda and Ole Vesterdal’s Private Collection. This bottle was not OK. Some thought that it was corked and other something else wrong with the bouquet.

In 2017 this vintage took part in a Great Tasting in the Wine Society 18%. For points and ranking see Great Tastings.
TastersSAI, JB, SS
HouseFonsecaVintage1960
ColourMature, quite dark yellow in colour.Number of tastings5
BouquetViolet, cacao, dark chocolate, coffee, dried fruit, some toffee but also some spiciness and old grocery shops in the nose.Score range16.00 - 18.00
TasteMedium body. Mature and probably peaking but with some lovely old acidity. Balance but quite sweet with a taste of cacao, toffee, ginger and dark chocolate with a fabulous, long attractive and never ending finish. What a lovely port!Average score16.85
Last tasted8th May 2018Point this date18.00
CommentAt the Port Forum Tasting in London, Great Britain.

In 2007 this vintage took part in a Great Tasting in the Wine Society 18%. For points and ranking see Great Tastings.
TastersSAI, JB, SS
HouseFonsecaVintage1963
ColourBeautiful, yellow mature in colour.Number of tastings29
BouquetEnormous bouquet of crème caramel, toffee, liquorice, violet, some spiciness, herbs and much more in the nose.Score range16.90 - 19.00
TasteFull-bodied. Mature and peaking but will keep for a long time. Complex, balanced and very elegant port with violet, toffee, liquorice, some spiciness, herbs and much more in taste and with an extremely long, never ending finish. A wonderful port indeed.Average score17.80
Last tasted22nd December 2023Point this date19.00
CommentTasted at home with the family.

In 2005 this vintage took part in a Great Tasting in the Wine Society 18%. For points and ranking see Great Tastings.
In 2013 this vintage took part in a Great Tasting in the Wine Society 18%. For points and ranking see Great Tastings.
TastersSAI, JB, SS
HouseFonsecaVintage1966
ColourMature, beautiful and yellow colour.Number of tastings17
BouquetRipe nose of candy, toffee, fudge, roasted coffee beans, tea, crème caramel, butterscotch, old grocery shop, walnuts and much more in the nose.Score range17.00 - 18.50
TasteFull-bodied. Complex, delicious and balanced with taste of cream candy, cacao, toffee and crème caramel and just name it and you will probably find it. Matured and peaking. A complex, very attractive and wonderful long finish, which seem never to end just rolling in the mouth! Excellent and quite incredible port.Average score17.61
Last tasted8th February 2023Point this date18.50
CommentTasted at home in 10th International Online Vintage Tasting with our German Port Friends from World of Port.

In 2006 this vintage took part in a Great Tasting in the Wine Society 18%. For points and ranking see Great Tastings.
TastersSAI, JB, SS
HouseFonsecaVintage1970
ColourStill quite dark ruby with a yellow, very beautiful mature rim in colour.Number of tastings24
BouquetLiquorice, violet, toffee, fudge, butterscotch, old grocery shop, cacao, dark chocolate, lime and much more in a marvellous bouquet.Score range16.75 - 18.25
TasteFull bodied. Rather mature and probably peaking but still with some very soft and elegant tannin. Elegant and balanced and enormously complex port. Toffee and butterscotch and heaven in taste. A wonderful never-ending finish. Just drink and enjoy it! This is one of the best ports ever!Average score17.57
Last tasted4th December 2023Point this date17.75
CommentTasted at the Wine Society 18% tasting in Malmö.

In 2008 this vintage took part in a Great Tasting in the Wine Society 18%. For points and ranking see Great Tastings.
TastersSAI, JB, SS
HouseFonsecaVintage1975
ColourYellow mature in colour.Number of tastings7
BouquetCoffee, mint and liquorice in the nose.Score range15.50 - 17.40
TasteMedium body. Mature and will not be better. Toffee in flavour. Elegant and balanced with a quite nice finish. Drink up.Average score16.29
Last tasted26th November 2011Point this date15.90
CommentAt the Port Wine Club est. 1981 tasting in Copenhagen, Denmark.

In 2006 this vintage took part in a Great Tasting in the Wine Society 18%. For points and ranking see Great Tastings.
TastersSAI, JB, SS
HouseFonsecaVintage1977
ColourBeautiful yellow and mature in colour.Number of tastings56
BouquetCinnamon, spring flowers, orange, cacao, chocolate, liquorice, roasted coffee beans, toffee, fudge, violets, some herbs, crème caramel aroma and lots of other things. Very complex indeed.Score range17.00 - 18.50
TasteFull-bodied. Rather mature but will probably develop more and be better. Wonderful in the mouth with cinnamon, liquorice, fudge, cacao, violet, crème caramel and lots of other things. Very complex, elegant and balanced port with a long and attractive finish which never seem to end. A marvellous port indeed! Just drink it and enjoy life!Average score17.76
Last tasted10th April 2024Point this date18.00
CommentTasted at the Port Wine Club est. 1981 tasting in Copenhagen, Denmark.

In 2010 this vintage took part in a Great Tasting in the Wine Society 18%. For points and ranking see Great Tastings.
TastersSAI, JB, SS
HouseFonsecaVintage1980
ColourMature yellow colour.Number of tastings9
BouquetGingerbread, cacao, some chocolate, candy and brown sugar in the nose.Score range15.00 - 16.00
TasteMedium body. Mature and peaking. Sweet but will not be better. Elegant. Easy to drink but not much back bone. Rather attractive finish. Will not improve so drink up.Average score15.62
Last tasted28th November 2023Point this date16.00
CommentTasted at home in 15th International Online Vintage Tasting with our German Port Friends from World of Port.
Not up to Fonseca´s normal standard at all.

In 2014 this vintage took part in a Great Tasting in the Wine Society 18%. For points and ranking see Great Tastings.
TastersSAI, JB, SS
HouseFonsecaVintage1983
ColourMature, beautiful yellow almost tawny in colour.Number of tastings16
BouquetToffee, fudge, mint, old grocery shop, some chocolate and liquorice in the nose.Score range15.40 - 16.50
TasteAlmost full-bodied. Mature and peaking. Chocolate and toffee in flavour. Balanced and quite elegant. Sweet and easy to drink and enjoy with a long and quite attractive finish.Average score15.94
Last tasted18th March 2017Point this date16.50
CommentAt the Wine Society 18% Great Tasting in Malmö.
1 bottle has been defect.

In 2017 this vintage took part in a Great Tasting in the Wine Society 18%. For points and ranking see Great Tastings.
TastersSAI, JB, SS
HouseFonsecaVintage1985
ColourStill very dark but yellow, mature in colour.Number of tastings25
BouquetVery complex bouquet of fudge, toffee, old grocery shop, violet, cacao, dark chocolate, some coffee and crème caramel. Excellent nose.Score range16.50 - 17.90
TasteFull-bodied. Mature and peaking but with a long life ahead. Sweet and very tasty with old grocery shop, toffee, cacao, some coffee, crème caramel and lots of other wonderful things. Powerful but elegant and very complex. The finish never seems to end. A great port and will be a long runner. Wonderful indeed!Average score99.99
Last tasted23rd November 2023Point this date17.25
CommentTasted at the arrival dinner at the Port Wine Messe in Leverkusen, Germany.

In 2020 this vintage took part in a Great Tasting in the Wine Society 18%. For points and ranking see Great Tastings.
TastersSAI, JB, SS
HouseFonsecaVintage1992
ColourStill rather dark but also yellow mature in colour.Number of tastings8
BouquetFudge, toffee, crème caramel, Christmas spiciness, ginger cakes, old grocery shop and much more in the nose.Score range16.50 - 17.00
TasteFull bodied. Rather mature but still with some soft tannin and will probably be much better! Ginger cakes, Christmas spiciness and toffee in flavour. Balanced and rather elegant with an attractive and long finish. Very enjoyable indeed.Average score16.75
Last tasted8th November 2018Point this date16.50
CommentAt the Wine Society 18% Great Tasting in Malmö.
2 bottles have been invalid.

In 2018 this vintage took part in a Great Tasting in the Wine Society 18%. For points and ranking see Great Tastings.
TastersSAI, JB, SS
HouseFonsecaVintage1994
ColourStill very dark but with yellow and mature in colour.Number of tastings7
BouquetDark chocolate, cacao, roasted coffee, herbs, some spiciness and old grocery shop in the nose.Score range16.40 - 17.00
TasteFull-bodied. Mature and peaking with some round and quite elegant tannins and will maybe improve. Balanced with cacao, dark chocolate, coffee, herbs in the mouth. Quite tasty with a complex, long and quite attractive finish.Average score16.73
Last tasted19th September 2024Point this date16.40
CommentTasted at the Wine Society 18% tasting in Malmö.

In 2024 this vintage took part in a Great Tasting in the Wine Society 18%. For points and ranking see Great Tastings.
TastersSAI, JB, SS
HouseFonsecaVintage1997
ColourStill very dark in colour with just a yellow mature rim.Number of tastings6
BouquetDried fruit, cacao, toffee, cream candy, crème caramel, some mint and liquorice in the nose..Score range99.99 - 17.00
TasteFull body. Quite mature but still some round and very elegant tannins. Balanced and complex with a coffee, mint and toffee, chocolate and liquorice and much more in the mouth. Elegant and an attractive and long finish.Average score16.88
Last tasted10th April 2023Point this date17.00
CommentTasted at the Port Wine Club est. 1981 tasting in Copenhagen, Denmark.
TastersSAI, JB, SS
HouseFonsecaVintage2000
ColourDark ruby in colour with a yellow rim.Number of tastings5
BouquetOld grocery shop, cacao, coffee, dried fruit, cream candy, crème caramel but also some, plums and tobacco in the nose.Score range16.90 - 17.00
TasteFull-bodied. Still quite a lot of soft and integrated tannins. Crème caramel, cream candy, mulberry, some tobacco and much more in taste. Balanced and very complex and very elegant. A lovely port with an attractive and very long finish which never seem to end and just is rolling back in the mouth.Average score16.98
Last tasted24th November 2023Point this date17.00
CommentTasted at the Portweinmesse in Leverkusen, Germany.
TastersSAI, JB, SS
HouseFonsecaVintage2003
ColourQuite dark garnet in colour with a lovely yellow mature rim.Number of tastings7
BouquetToffee, cacao, fudge, chocolate, violets and other flowers, coffee beans cream candy, liquorice, dried fruit and old grocery shop in the nose.Score range16.75 - 17.00
TasteFull-bodied. Still some delicate and lovely tannins and will of course be better but is very attractive already today. Lots of toffee, cacao, violets, liquorice and much, much more in taste with an impressive, seductive and quite wonderful finish. What a lovely port!Average score16.83
Last tasted23rd April 2024Point this date17.00
CommentTasted at the Big Fortified Tasting in London, Great Britain.
TastersSAI, JB, SS
HouseFonsecaVintage2007
ColourVery dark but with a hint of a yellow edge in colour.Number of tastings4
BouquetToffee, fudge, cream candy, cacao, chocolate and much more in the nose. Impressive.Score range16.50 - 16.75
TasteFull-bodied. Lovely attractive tannins and has a long way to go. The mouth is full of different tastes such as toffee, fudge, cacao, chocolate, candy and so on. Impressive, long and attractive finish. Looking forward to drink it again.Average score16.63
Last tasted4th November 2022Point this date16.75
CommentTasted at the Wine Festival in Leverkusen.
Germany.
TastersSAI, JB, SS
HouseFonsecaVintage2009
ColourVery dark blue, almost black in colour.Number of tastings1
BouquetVery immature and loaded with mulberry, blackberry, dark berry, dark cherry in the nose.Score range16.50 - 16.50
TasteFull-bodied. Loaded with lovely tannin but balanced and quite easy to drink and enjoy. Mulberry, blackberry, dark cherry stones in taste. Still lots of tannin in a long and attractive finish.Average score
Last tasted24th December 2017Point this date16.50
CommentAt home with the family
TastersSAI, JB, SS
HouseFonsecaVintage2016
ColourVery dark ruby almost black in colour.Number of tastings2
BouquetSpring flowers, dark berry such as mulberry and black berry and loaded with elegant fruit in the nose.
TasteFull-bodied. Delicate tannin but balanced and easy to drink and enjoy. Loaded with fruit and dark berry, mulberry, dark cherry and much more in taste and with an excellent, long, very attractive finish. What will be?
Last tasted26th November 2021Rating this dateVery Impressive
CommentAt the Port Wine Festival in Leverkusen, Germany.

Port so young we evaluate only as : Good – Very good- Impressive – Very Impressive
TastersSAI, JB, SS
HouseFonsecaVintage2017
ColourVery dark ruby almost black in colour.Number of tastings5
BouquetLots of dark berries such as mulberry, dark cherry and blackberry but also some dark chocolate, cacao and some herbs in the nose.Score range16.25 - 16.40
TasteFull-bodied. Delicate and round tannins and will of course improve a lot. Balanced with dark berry, crème caramel, cacao and chocolate in taste. The finish is delicate, very long and seems never to end and is very seductive. This port will be lovely to follow!Average score16.33
Last tasted10th April 2024Point this date16.25
CommentTasted at the Port Wine Club est. 1981 tasting in Copenhagen, Denmark.
TastersSAI, JB, SS

Old Colheita/Tawny tasting notes:

HouseFonsecaColheita1867
ColourBeautiful tawny in colour with a lime green rim.Number of tastings1
BouquetWonderful complex bouquet of candy, toffee and a full arsenal of aromas in the nose.Bottled
TasteMedium body. Mature and maybe a little tired with some acidity but anyhow elegant and balanced with an attractive and long finish. Quite wonderful old port.Score range17.50 - 17.50
Last tasted8th July 1998Point this date17.50
CommentOn a trip to Oporto
TastersSAI

Last tasted:

21st September
Pocas Jr 2001
19th September
Cockburn 1983
Delaforce 1992
Dow 2000
Fonseca 1994
Graham 2003
Quinta do Cachao
Messias 1983
Quinta do Pego 2000
Quinta do Vale Meao 2003
Rozes 1994
Taylor 1992

more...

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