2022 Taylor’s Sentinels Vintage Port 1 x 0.75L 2022 Fonseca Guimaraens Vintage Port 1 x 0.75L 2 Bottles Port Wine WINEMAKER: David Guimaraens. -> 2022 Taylor’s Sentinels Vintage Port 1 x 0.75L AWARDS/RECOMMENDATIONS 94 Points, Wine Spectator 94 Points, Decanter 93 Points, Robert Parker 91-93 Points, Alex Bridgeman 17.5 Points, Richard Mayson 17 Points, Jancis Robinson WINE VARIETIES: Traditional from Douro Region. TASTING NOTES Deep purple black core with a narrow purple rim. An explosion of powerful woodland fruit, overlaid with a rich layer of blackcurrant, dark plum and cherries that jump out of the glass. The woodland fruit aromas are infused with subtle notes of dark cherry, hints of rockrose, a touch of mint and beautiful perfumed rose petals. The fruit is elegant and understated concealing the wines vigour and energy. On the palate the wine displays incredible freshness, purity of fruit and an attractive leanness, with a hint of lavender and herbal aromas. Laser focused berry fruits of damsons, plums and black cherries continue to build into the very long finish. HARVEST When flowering started on the 19th May, we continued to register very low levels of water – 195mm to be exact from the previous November to the 31st May. Because of the dry conditions, we had very little pressure from disease, which meant that the key focus in the vineyards was dedicated to working the canopies. At the beginning of June we entered a phase of the first of many heatwaves with temperatures of over 40 degrees Celsius recorded - this is very unusual for June. July was the hottest ever recorded with an average temperature of 28.3c. In fact, on the 14th July in Pinhão we recorded a temperature of 46.5c. The highest temperature ever recorded. As a result of the extreme temperatures, veraison only occurred in the last week of July. Harvest started on the 3rd September at Vargellas with the vines producing very small berries, which gave them a good juice to skin ratio. A few days later on the 6th September we had a very welcome 4mm of rainfall which kept the temperatures down and gave some very welcome relief to the vines and did a great job in giving the grapes that all important final push.2022 will be remembered for the year that we were able to foot tread again, after two years interruption due to COVID. Seeing the lagares full of people again and knowing that this is the way great vintage ports are made, was a sight to hold. SERVING Walnuts, blue veined and other richly flavoured cheeses are excellent accompaniments to Vintage Port; so too are dried fruits such as apricots or figs. Alternatively, simply savour the rich and complex flavours of the wine on their own in a generously proportioned glass with good company. Serve at 16ºC to 18ºC. Vintage Port is best drunk one to two days after opening. HISTORY For many, Taylor’s is the archetypal Port house and its wines the quintessential Ports. Established over three centuries ago in 1692, Taylor’s is one of the oldest of the founding Port houses. It is dedicated entirely to the production of Port wine and in particular to its finest styles. Above all, Taylor’s is regarded as the benchmark for Vintage Port. Noted for their elegance and poise as well as for their restrained power and longevity, Taylor’s Vintage Ports are blended from the finest wines of the firm’s own quintas or estates, Vargellas, Terra Feita and Junco. These three iconic properties, each occupying a distinct geographic location and with their own unique character, are the cornerstone of the company’s success and the main source of its unique and inimitable house style. Taylor’s is also respected as a producer of wood aged ports and holds one of the largest reserves of rare cask aged wines from which its distinguished aged tawny Ports are drawn. The house is also known as the originator of Late Bottled Vintage, a style which the firm pioneered and of which it remains the leading producer. Above all, Taylor’s is an independent company in which some family members play a leading role in all areas of the firm’s activity. The firm’s long and unbroken family tradition has provided continuity and clarity of purpose, essential attributes of any great wine house. It has also allowed the skills and knowledge required to produce the finest ports to be constantly refined and added to in the light of experience as they are passed down from one generation to the next. Based in Oporto and the Douro Valley the company is closely involved in all stages of the production of its Ports, from the planting of the vineyard and the cultivation of the grapes to the making, ageing, blending and bottling of the wines. The family’s commitment to the future of Port is demonstrated in its single minded dedication to the highest standards in Port production, its continued investment in all aspects of the firm’s operations and its determination to preserve the unique environment of the Douro Valley through the promotion of sustainable and responsible viticulture. -> 2022 Fonseca Guimaraens Vintage Port 1 x 0.75L AWARDS/RECOMMENDATIONS 18 Points, Jancis Robinson WINE VARIETIES: Old Vines. VINIFICATION Guimaraens Vintage Ports are made in certain years when a classic Fonseca Vintage is not declared. They are blended from the best produce of the firm’s Pinhão Valley estates, Cruzeiro and Santo António, and Fonseca’s flagship property, Quinta do Panascal, on the right bank of the Távora. TASTING NOTES A distinctive magenta rim surrounds an opaque purple, almost black core. The nose opens with a surge of powerful and intense woodland berry aromas, rich and juicy with hints of cassis, blackberry and wild strawberries. Note of apricot emerge as the wine opens up in the glass, followed by warmer notes of cedar, spice, dark chocolate and that opulent fruit character that defines the Fonseca style On the palate these lush berry fruit aromas are enveloped by an aura of wild herbs, star anise, raspberry leaf, cocoa nibs and a delicious touch of tangerine peel. The wines silky texture conceals the firm, well knit tannins which emerge on the finish to provide an attractive firmness and grip. A seductive Vintage Port which is drinking beautifully now. SERVING Walnuts are an excellent accompaniment to Vintage Port, as are blue-veined and other richly flavored cheeses. So too are dried fruits such as apricots or figs. Alternatively, simply savor the rich and complex flavors of the wine on their own in a generously proportioned glass with good company. Vintage Port forms a natural deposit in the bottle and should be decanted. Stand the bottle upright a few hours before decanting to allow the sediment to fall to the bottom of the bottle. With time, the cork may become fragile and opening the bottle requires careful treatment. We recommend the use of a Bi-blade corkscrew that will avoid breaking the natural cork, especially one that is older than ten years of age. Pour the wine in a slow, steady stream into a decanter, ensuring that only the clear wine is poured, leaving the sediment behind. Serve at 16ºC to 18ºC. Vintage Port is best drunk one to two days after opening. HISTORY Since 1815 producing the best and most iconic port wines Fonseca is the only Port house with four 100 Point scoring wines. Perhaps more than any other Port producer, Fonseca has built a loyal community of Port enthusiasts who value its individuality and the inimitable character of its wines. From the legendary 1840, Fonseca's first Vintage Port release, to the superb declared vintages of the last decade, the house has produced a succession of highly acclaimed wines even in the most adverse moments of history. James Suckling, in his authoritative book on Vintage Port, put it as follows: 'The vintage Ports of Fonseca are perhaps the most consistently great of them all. Not only do they have a striking fleshiness and powerful richness when young, but they retain that youthfulness for decades.' This consistency derives not only from continuity of family involvement, and the knowledge and skill passed down from one generation to the next, but also a close link with the vineyard. The firm's three estates of Cruzeiro, Panascal and Santo António are the heart of the distinctive character of Fonseca's Vintage Ports. Fonseca's respect for the vineyard and the unique environment of the Douro Valley expresses itself in the firm's leadership in the field of sustainable and organic viticulture. It was the first house to offer a Port made entirely from organically produced grapes. PLEASE NOTE: This is a recurring auction. The seal number(s) you see on the photos might differ from the one(s) on your bottle(s).