NV Fonseca - Porto Ruby Port

Fonseca was established in 1822 when Manuel Pedro Guimaraens acquired control of the Fonseca and Monteiro Company, retaining the Fonseca name as a condition of the sale. Fonseca Guimaraens is one of the largest Port wine houses in Portugal, founded that same year when Manuel Pedro Gonçalves Guimaraens and his brother acquired the company from the Fonseca family. The current winemaker, David Guimaraens, took over in 1994 after formalizing his education in enology at Roseworthy Agricultural College in South Australia. The house is now part of The Fladgate Partnership and remains known for its opulent, richly fruited style across its range of Ports.

This Ruby Port is sourced from vineyards in the Douro Valley, one of the world's oldest delimited wine regions, established in 1756, where steep terraced vineyards on schist soils require manual harvesting and vineyard management. Fonseca has been shipping Ruby Port since the company's founding, and the wine is aged for three years in large wooden vats where it softens and develops without losing its fresh, intense fruity character and deep ruby color. The blend draws on Portugal's traditional Douro red varieties before bottling for immediate enjoyment.

The nose is fresh and youthful, marked by black cherry, cassis, and blackberry aromas with a touch of spice. On the palate it is full bodied and round, with a velvety, luscious texture and smooth, well integrated tannins that carry through to a long, rich fruity finish. This Ruby Port pairs beautifully with dark chocolate desserts, aged cheddar, or a bowl of roasted almonds.