Fonseca LBV 2016

Established in 1815, Fonseca belongs to the first line of Vintage Port wine producing houses. It is recognized for the consistency in the quality and style of its Vintages, produced by the Guimaraens family, over five generations, since its foundation.
This consistency is the result of continuous family involvement, knowledge and technical competence passed down from generation to generation, but it is also the result of close proximity to the vineyard. The company’s three properties – Quinta do Cruzeiro, Panascal and Santo António – are at the heart of the distinctive character of its Vintage Ports.
Fonseca’s respect for the vineyard and the Douro region is expressed in the firm’s leadership position in the area of sustainable viticulture. Fonseca was the first house to present, in 2006, a Port wine entirely produced from organic grapes.
It is the only Port wine house with four wines rated at 100 Points. Perhaps more than any other house, Fonseca has built a loyal community of Port wine enthusiasts who value their individuality and the inimitable character of their wines.

The Wine

The acronym LBV stands for Late Bottled Vintage, which in Portuguese would be “Late Bottling Vintage”. The LBV was developed as an alternative to the Vintage Port for more relaxed and informal occasions. Just like the Vintage, LBV is a high-quality Port Wine from a single year. However, unlike Vintage Port, which is bottled after only two years in barrels, LBV is bottled after four to six years and is ready to be consumed when bottled. The wines used to produce Fonseca LBV were selected from a reserve of the best full-bodied red Port wines produced in the 2016 harvest, from grapes grown in Fonseca’s own vineyards and other prominent estates in the Cima Corgo and Douro Superior regions of the Douro. The unfiltered LBV is aged in large wooden casks and then bottled without clarification or filtration. The result is a naturally expressive wine, which has not sacrificed its depth and fullness of flavor. Late Bottled Vintage is bottled when it is ready to be consumed. This Port Wine benefits from being decanted before serving, as it is not filtered when bottled. A limited quantity of this exceptional blend has been produced.

Tasting Notes

Deep purple core with red lip. Rich, seductive and very fragrant nose. Notes of blackberry, plum and wild raspberry and licorice, it presents a wonderful tension. Blackberries add an additional layer of soft, fleshy fruit, raspberry and currant mix, with a hint of floral sweetness. On the palate, spices, blackberries, Assam tea with its notes of dark chocolate, cocoa and a seductive herbaceous touch. It has an excellent tension, concentration of wild black berries, silky tannins and a fresh and fulgent finish, with a very long and generous finish.

Endnotes

Region: Douro
Country: Portugal
Producer: Fonseca
Winemaker: David Guimaraens
Service Temperature: between 16ºC and 18ºC
Pairing: Fonseca’s LBV is the perfect end to any meal. It is an excellent accompaniment to intense cheeses, especially blue cheeses such as Stilton or Roquefort. It’s also delicious with chocolate or berry desserts.