2018 Niepoort Late Bottled Vintage Port (375ml)

Notes from producer....
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.
The 2018 harvest will be remembered for its record low yields in the vineyard and atypical weather. The winter was cold and dry, while Spring and early Summer were very wet and relatively cold, which led to a delay in the vegetative cycle as well as problems with mildew in this region. In addition to these challenges, there was a dramatic hailstorm at the end of May and a heat wave in the last few days of July.
August was hot, with hot and dry weather conditions for the whole duration of the harvest, which started at Vale de Mendiz on 6 September.
Violet glints appear in this wine’s intense ruby red hue. The nose reveals aromas of fruits of the forest, spices and figs. On the palate, you will find Niepoort’s quintessential structure and elegance. It sets off on sweet notes but finishes dry, with a surprisingly assertive acidity. This Late Bottled Vintage is one of the few wines in its category that is bottled with a real cork instead of a bar top closure. At Niepoort, this means that this Port can already be enjoyed in its youth or left to mature in the bottle for many years.