23 Apr 2026
Fonseca announces the forthcoming release of the 2024 Vintage Port.
Adrian Bridge, Managing Director
“I am happy that Fonseca will announce its decision to declare a classic
2024 Vintage release, our smallest and rarest Vintage declaration to date. It
has been 7 years since Fonseca declared a classic Vintage Port and the wines
from 2024 are of exceptional quality. Fonseca is sought after around the world
for its opulence and fresh fruit flavours, and the Fonseca 2024 Vintage is in
keeping with the style of the house. It has incredible depth, intensity,
persistence and the youthful exuberance can be enjoyed today with friends or
allowed to mature in the cellar, assuming bottles are still available.”
David Guimaraens, Head winemaker
“2024
had excellent water reserves for the vines to grow. We could not have asked for
better growth conditions, that were typically warm throughout the summer
followed by a cooler harvest period for long fermentations. This created
beautiful Fonseca Vintage ports that were all made in the traditional granite
lagares and with foot treading. The wines have that incredible freshness of
fruit and dimension that Fonseca is famous for.”
Tasting Note
Rich, deep purple colour with a fine violet
rim. The nose displays very delicate and pure black fruit, a fusion of black
cherry, cassis and blackcurrant aromas. An ethereal fragrance of violets, hints
of tropical fruits and crushed mint fill the glass. Outstanding refinement and
purity showcase the year with complexity of fruit and an attractive minerality.
The palate is rich and luscious with taut
tannins, texture and polish that coat the palate with hints of exotic wood,
wild herbs and Hemingway mint. Succulent, concentrated woodland fruit, pairs
wonderfully with the racing acidity and refreshing bright finish.
NOTES ON THE 2024 VITICULTURAL YEAR AND HARVEST
The winter
of 2023/24 brought a welcome return of rainfall for the second consecutive
year. Although temperatures were relatively mild, an early budburst on 5th
of March set the season off to an early and promising start.
Spring and
early summer was cool with occasional useful light rainfalls, arriving at
well-spaced intervals that supported healthy vineyard growth.
From July
onwards the weather settled into a long, dry period that extended through to
the end of harvest. Veraison began on 18th of July, and the mild
summer conditions encouraged a steady, even ripening cycle. As temperatures
rose towards the end of July, August provided warm conditions, with
consistently high night-time temperatures that put the vines under some stress.
Crucially,
at the end of August temperatures moderated, with slightly cooler days and
notably cooler nights throughout September. These conditions were ideal for the
final stages of ripening, and to achieve full phenolic maturity.
The harvest
began with very attractive fruit from varieties such as Touriga Nacional and
Tinta Roriz, while Touriga Francesa and Tinta Cão benefited from a little
additional time on the vine to achieve full perfection.
The combination of the field blends,
co-fermentation, have produced ports which are going to be very complex and
memorable. In general, the 2024 ports show very good freshness of fruit, lovely
flavours, very fine tannins and great acidity
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