Niepoort 2017 'LBV Late Bottled Vintage', Porto, Portugal

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.

Winemaker: José Nogueira, Nicholas Delaforce

Varieties: Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinto Cão, Tinta Francisca, Tinta Amarela, Sousão, Tinta Roriz and others

Farming: Biodynamic

Terroir: 70+ Year old vines planted in terraced Schist soils in Vinhas da Pisca, Vale do Pinhão and Ferrão in the Douro.

Vinification: Hand-picked and fermented In lagares, with foot-treading. Shortly after the harvest the wines were transferred to wooden casks (“tonéis”) and spent the winter maturing in the Douro Valley. In April 2016 they were brought to Vila Nova de Gaia. The final blend aged in our cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia until bottling.

Aging: 4 to 6 years in large wooden vats. The wine-making 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.

Tasting Notes: With a wonderfully concentrated and deep ruby hue, this Port shows intense and complex aromas: predominantly red fruits, spice and dark chocolate. A very elegant and expressive nose is echoed by a full-bodied palate with firm tannins and a lively acidity which lends the wine freshness and balance. The finish is long and delightful. This wine already offers great pleasure in its youth but it is definitely suitable for further cellaring and will age beautifully for many years to come.

From our November 2020 Bottle Club (featured the 2015 vintage):

As the holidays roll near, it's important to remember to keep something sweet on the side to round out your big meals! There are few things better than a nice glass of Port, and almost no one does it better than Niepoort. One of the last remaining independent family-run Port houses, the Niepoorts have been producing their lovely fortified wines since 1842, in Vila Nova de Gaia, the center of the universe for aging port casks after they are transported down-river from the Douro Valley. The process for making Port requires that the still wine is fortified with a neutral grape spirit (think unoaked brandy), which halts the fermentation process and preserves the wine’s remaining sugars. The result is a sweet, strong wine that is ideal for sweet treats, strong cheeses, a robust cigar, or simply helping you to digest a big meal.

Even better—the elevated alcohol helps to preserve the wine once opened, so if you keep it in the fridge, it can last you up to 6 months! While most Port you find in the stores is blended from many years, the “Late Bottled Vintage” comes from a single year, and stylistically sits between a Ruby and vintage style Port in style. This means it maintains a fresh, full fruity quality while still leaning into the oxidative nutty notes that come from 4-6 years of barrel aging. The deep chocolaty, fall spice notes of this wine, paired with its inherently high acidity, make it versatile with dishes ranging from peppery steaks and blue cheese to chocolate mousse cake and pumpkin pie. Have fun with this bottle and experiment with pairings (and maybe even some cocktails!)