Our LBV is aged for 4 to 6 years in large wooden vats. The winemaking and ageing methods were chosen to match the selection of wines which make up the LBV: full-bodied red Ports stemming from a single vintage. LBV or Late Bottled Vintage is a category of Port wines which became popular in the 60s, filling the gap between Ruby and Vintage Ports. The extended ageing period of the LBV allows it to show a rounder and mature character –this wine can therefore be enjoyed young, soon after bottling.

VINIFICATION

After a considerably wet and relatively cool growing season up until July, it appeared that the harvest would be very late, however the end of July and the month of August were dry and hot in the Douro, allowing the ripening process to catch up. In Vale de Mendiz, harvesting began on 12 September. Heavy rainfall on 13 September meant that we had to halt picking but this proved most useful as it allowed the grapes to reach full ripeness over the following few weeks.Harvest resumed under fine conditions with cool nights, and the last grapes were harvested at Vale de Mendiz on 14 October. Yields were down by approximately 30% in the region, but the low yields and good weather conditions concentrated the fruit.

TASTING NOTES

Dark ruby in colour with a red rim, this LBV brings dark chocolate aromas to the foreground, along with fruits of the forest and a spicy character. It offers medium weight on the palate with firm structure and acidity providing superb freshness and ending in a spicy, warming finish. The wine is drinking beautifully now, with great freshness and primary fruit in evidence, but it will also benefit from further cellaring for a couple of decades.

ABV- 19.5% Alc