Fonseca Vintage Port 2016

Deep purple color with a fine purple rim. The nose displays very fine and pure black fruit, a fusion of black cherry, cassis and blackberry jam aromas, with notes of crushed mint, an ethereal fragrance of violets and hints of ripe tropical fruit. The year has given an additional layer of purity and refinement to Fonseca’s subtle and complex fruit character, as well as an attractive minerality. The weather pattern of the 2016 vintage was relatively unusual. Rainfall in April and May was almost three times the average of the last10 years. It replenished groundwater reserves that had been reduced due to the previous year’s drought, but also resulted in significant fruit loss and consequent reduced yields in some areas, as well as a late start to the ripening cycle. In contrast, July gave way to the onset of hot, dry conditions that lasted for the rest of the summer. Ripening was uniform, gradual and completed after a few rains in mid-September.