98 points James Suckling: "Lots of ripe fruit here with raisins and wet earth that turn to violets and hot stones. Full-bodied, tannic and powerful with fantastic grip and intensity. Grabs you. Impressive. Drink in 2025. (5/29/18)"
96-98 points Mark Squires (Wine Advocate): "[$120 list] The 2016 Vintage Port is a field blend that was not quite bottled when seen (set for a week later), but it was the final blend. It was aged for 20 months in wood and comes in with 99 grams of residual sugar. This Fonseca is remarkably expressive, lifted and gloriously fresh. It has good concentration but some years have had more and seemed sexier. However, the most notable feature is the structure. It is very impressive in structure, that classic Port power and firmness coming to the fore and overshadowing the rest at the moment. This is very tight and very unevolved. Don't even think of buying it if you aren't prepared to cellar it. The 2030 start date that I have will not be even close to late enough if you want harmony and complexity. To me, this is the best of the three 2016s from the Fladgate Group this issue (Croft and Taylor being the other two), thanks to its pure intensity, but time will tell if it becomes as sexy as I'm sure Taylor's will be. In the meanwhile, Fonseca looks like one of the greats of this vintage. Drink: 2030-2075. (Jul 2018)"
97 points Wine Spectator: "[$120 list] This leads in with bramble, spearmint and blueberry notes, with the energy extending through the core of dark plum, blackberry and fig fruit. The finish features a strong graphite spine, allowing this to draw deep water, but this remains stylish in feel overall. Best from 2030 through 2055. (10/24/18)"
97 points Decanter: "Closed and withdrawn on the nose at this stage with an underlying dusting of ripe tannins evident. Firm, sweet cassis and berry fruit, with classic dark chocolate intensity at the core, backed by broad yet tight-knit peppery tannins which lead to a big, grippy finish. All there and very fine with a hugely promising future ahead. Drink: 2035-2055. Alcohol 20%. (Dec 2018)"
97 points and 'Cellar Selection,' Wine Enthusiast: "This bottling brings together a fine structure with great fruit to give a luscious wine that is also destined for long-term aging. With its ripe berry flavors sustained by some acidity, this is already balanced. Drink from 2028. Alcohol 20%. (Dec 2018)"
97 points Anthony Dias Blue (The Tasting Panel): "[$120/750ml list] Dark and mildly sweet with density and notes of vanilla and toast; racy, luscious, and long; superb now--and built to last--from a producer that released its first Port in 1840. (Sep 2018)"
96 points Neal Martin (Vinous): "[$120 list] The 2016 Fonseca Vintage Port began to be picked on 21 September at their Panascal vineyard, their Quinta do Cruzeira vineyard not picked until 6 October. It is deep, almost inky in colour. The bouquet is very intense with luscious black fruit laced with embers, clove and hints of bay leaf. There is wonderful purity here and a broodiness that suggests you'd better be patient. The palate is sweet and lively on the entry with some gorgeous ginger and curry leaf notes littered over the compact black fruit. There is wonderful density to this Fonseca. It is like a coiled spring with so much energy towards the finish that you just know this will be a long-term prospect. Superb. Drink: 2026-2070. (Jun 2018)"
96-98 points Mark Squires (Wine Advocate): "[$120 list] The 2016 Vintage Port is a field blend that was not quite bottled when seen (set for a week later), but it was the final blend. It was aged for 20 months in wood and comes in with 99 grams of residual sugar. This Fonseca is remarkably expressive, lifted and gloriously fresh. It has good concentration but some years have had more and seemed sexier. However, the most notable feature is the structure. It is very impressive in structure, that classic Port power and firmness coming to the fore and overshadowing the rest at the moment. This is very tight and very unevolved. Don't even think of buying it if you aren't prepared to cellar it. The 2030 start date that I have will not be even close to late enough if you want harmony and complexity. To me, this is the best of the three 2016s from the Fladgate Group this issue (Croft and Taylor being the other two), thanks to its pure intensity, but time will tell if it becomes as sexy as I'm sure Taylor's will be. In the meanwhile, Fonseca looks like one of the greats of this vintage. Drink: 2030-2075. (Jul 2018)"
97 points Wine Spectator: "[$120 list] This leads in with bramble, spearmint and blueberry notes, with the energy extending through the core of dark plum, blackberry and fig fruit. The finish features a strong graphite spine, allowing this to draw deep water, but this remains stylish in feel overall. Best from 2030 through 2055. (10/24/18)"
97 points Decanter: "Closed and withdrawn on the nose at this stage with an underlying dusting of ripe tannins evident. Firm, sweet cassis and berry fruit, with classic dark chocolate intensity at the core, backed by broad yet tight-knit peppery tannins which lead to a big, grippy finish. All there and very fine with a hugely promising future ahead. Drink: 2035-2055. Alcohol 20%. (Dec 2018)"
97 points and 'Cellar Selection,' Wine Enthusiast: "This bottling brings together a fine structure with great fruit to give a luscious wine that is also destined for long-term aging. With its ripe berry flavors sustained by some acidity, this is already balanced. Drink from 2028. Alcohol 20%. (Dec 2018)"
97 points Anthony Dias Blue (The Tasting Panel): "[$120/750ml list] Dark and mildly sweet with density and notes of vanilla and toast; racy, luscious, and long; superb now--and built to last--from a producer that released its first Port in 1840. (Sep 2018)"
96 points Neal Martin (Vinous): "[$120 list] The 2016 Fonseca Vintage Port began to be picked on 21 September at their Panascal vineyard, their Quinta do Cruzeira vineyard not picked until 6 October. It is deep, almost inky in colour. The bouquet is very intense with luscious black fruit laced with embers, clove and hints of bay leaf. There is wonderful purity here and a broodiness that suggests you'd better be patient. The palate is sweet and lively on the entry with some gorgeous ginger and curry leaf notes littered over the compact black fruit. There is wonderful density to this Fonseca. It is like a coiled spring with so much energy towards the finish that you just know this will be a long-term prospect. Superb. Drink: 2026-2070. (Jun 2018)"
| Product SKU | 702069 |
| Producer | Fonseca |
| Country | Portugal |
| Region | Porto DOC |
| Varietal | Other Red Blends |
| Vintage | 2016 |
| Size | 750ml |
| Color | Red |
| ABV | 20.5% |
| Ships To |
