Notes - Late Bottled Vintage port is from a single year. The wine ages 4-6 years in old oak casks (opposed to Vintage that ages 2-3). LBV fills the gap between the rubies and the vintage ports since a Ruby Port should be drunk quite young and a great Vintage Port may need 15 to 20 years to really open up and show its splendour. Winemaker Dirk Niepoort calls this the "Little Brother" of his Vintage Port, as the origins of the grapes and vinification methods are identical. It was created from low-yielding old vines in the Cima Corgo region of the Douro valley. The grapes were trodden in lagares and later the Port was matured in large wooden Vats and also in barrels at our Niepoort's in Gaia. The Niepoort Late Bottled Vintages are traditionally bottled 4 years after the harvest. Deep red colour with a very vivacious, lively aroma of fresh dark plums, cherries and a hint of chocolate along with a silky aroma giving the wine great finesse. Fabulous extract on the palate with a tight grainy texture intertwined with fresh dark fruits and a mellow spirity finish. The wine can be enjoyed now, and will become more complex with further cellaring until 2020. To fully benefit from its qualities we recommend it be decanted before serving. Serve with soft cheeses, mild blue cheese, dark chocolate desserts or a pepper steak!