Fonseca Guimaraens Añada 1995

Notes of the Year:

The winter of 1994/5 was characterized by very intense rain, but temperatures were higher than normal and it can be said that no cold weather was experienced. February was a dry month and the beginning of spring was unusually warm for the season. Cold weather arrived at the end of April and, in the higher regions of the Douro, there was severe damage caused by frost. However, in May, the conditions for flowering turned out to be almost perfect.

The two highlights of the 1995 harvest were the exceptionally high sugar levels and the very abundant harvest. Color extraction was excellent and fermentations in the mills always took a long time.

Tasting Note:

Fresh and concentrated aromas of raspberry jam with herbal nuances. Delicious mouthfeel, fat and full of flavors of chocolate, prune and licorice. Firm tannins, good volume and soft, velvety texture. Wonderfully prolonged finish.

Press Notes:

"Delicious and fragrant wine, with exotic flavors of black plums, violets and cinnamon. The fruit is firmly based on solid tannins and seems to have the potential for a medium aging period, say 10 to 15 years." (Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast, February 2001)