The wines used to produce Fonseca Late Bottled Vintage were drawn from a reserve of some of the best full bodied red ports produced during the 2012 harvest, from grapes grown on Fonseca’s own vineyards and other top properties in the Cima Corgo and Douro Superior. These wines are aged in wood vats of 50 pipes (27,500 litres) capacity and then bottled after five years. A limited quantity of this outstanding blend was produced. Late Bottled Vintage is bottled when ready to drink. This port benefits from being decanted before serving, as it is not filtered when bottled.

93 Points
Blue Lifestyle
2014 vintage
90 Points
Wine Spectator
2014 vintage
Harvest Note
The spring preceding the 2014 harvest was warmer and wetter than average, resulting in an early bud burst. Flowering conditions were excellent and vegetative growth was healthy and vigorous. The abundant spring rains combined with a relatively cool start to the summer meant that the vines had plenty of access to water during the warm summer as well as very healthy, dense leaf canopies. As a result, the ripening of the grapes was gradual, balanced and complete. A spell of hot weather in the first week of September, followed by two days of rain, helped to complete and balance out the ripening. Wine makers notes refer to the crop as being one of the healthiest of recent years, producing musts with excellent phenolic and sugar ripeness.
Tasting Note
Very deep purple with a narrow magenta rim. The nose is tight, with impressive depth and background. The base of brooding dark berry fruit is laced with liquorice and dark chocolate. Fleeting balsamic, plummy notes emerge as the nose gradually opens up. On the palate, the wine has exceptional weight and volume, supported by a mesh of thick, dense tannins. Luscious blackberry jam and plum flavors surge through into a seemingly endless finish. A powerful and uncompromising Unfiltered Late Bottled Vintage retaining every ounce of aroma and flavor.
Food Pairing
Excellent with fully flavored 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
APPELLATION: Douro
PH: 3.7
ACIDITY: 4.30 g/l
ABV: 20%
RESIDUAL SUGAR: 104 g/l
Unique Selling Points
  • An LBV made from Fonseca’s own estate vineyard grapes.
  • Produced in high quality vintages.
  • Shows many of the characters of vintage Porto, but is ready to drink sooner.

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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