Fonseca Vintage Half 2016

From its first Vintage Port release in 1840, Fonseca has established itself as one of the preeminent producers in the region, renowned for remarkable quality and consistency. Their Vintage Ports are only released when a vintage produces outstanding wines with long term ageing potential and are composed of wines from the estates of Cruzeiro, Santo Antonio and Panascal. The 2016 vintage had an inauspicious start with high rainfall, however, towards the harvest period dry conditions prevailed and saw even ripening and excellent quality fruit. This is a refined and subtly complex release with wonderful aromatic purity, offering up delicious notes of black cherry, cassis, violets and crushed slate minerality. Though tautly structured now, there is ample weight, texture and inner mouth perfume to develop into something really rather excellent.