Niepoort Late Bottled Vintage 2017

Large wooden vats are used to age Niepoort's LBV for 4 to 6 years. The selection of wines that make up the LBV—full-bodied red Ports from a single vintage—was matched with the winemaking and aging techniques. In order to bridge the gap between Ruby and Vintage Ports, a category of port wines known as LBV, or Late Bottled Vintage, sprang to popularity in the 1960s. Since the LBV has had more time to age, it can have a rounder, more mature character; as a result, this wine can be savored early, immediately after bottling.

This LBV's dark ruby color and red rim bring scents of dark chocolate, fruits of the forest, and a spicy character to the forefront. It has a medium body, a strong structure, excellent freshness, and acidity that leads to a spicy, warming finish. The wine is drinking nicely right now, showing excellent freshness and primary fruit, but it will also benefit from additional aging in the cellar for a few decades.

A perfect match for chocolate desserts. It will also go well with fragrant red meat dishes, such as venison, lamb, veal, or pepper steak, as well as Cheddar, Gouda, and Brie cheese.

Grape Variety: Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinto Cão, Tinta Francisca, Tinta Amarela, Sousão, Tempranillo

Country: Portugal - Douro