Typically the great Port houses will declare a vintage three times in a decade. This leaves seven years where the vintage might be very good but not quite the full monty and it is from these years that Fonseca release Fonseca Guimaraens.

For me these ports are the great value wines of the region. They are released after ageing by the house itself and so are ready to drink but will reward some extra cellaring. Best of all they cost about a third of what a classic vintage Fonseca would do.

Very fleshy damson fruit, good colour, spices. A sense of heat and baked earth. Lovely warm finish. Very pleasurable.