What is the difference between a Late Bottle Vintage (LBV) or a Vintage port. VinhoDoPorto.nl explains it.
For more than 100 years, Vintage Ports have been declared by the Instituto de Vinho do Porto.
The port houses can only declare Vintage port when the port is of exceptional quality with exceptional features, a beautiful color, a full body and of course a very refined aroma and taste.
Determination by the institute must take place between 1 January and 30 September. This must be sent in the 2nd year after harvest by the Port shipper. It is then very important that the port is bottled after 1 July of the 2nd year after the harvest and before 1 June of the 3rd year after the harvest. This is one of the most important requirements of a Vintage postage. Further requirements are:
1. The port must be bottled within 2 years after maturing, after which the port ripens further in the bottle.
2. The port must be made from the best grapes from one harvest year.
The reason that a Vintage port is bottled so quickly after the harvest is a simple one. In the past 250 years, it has been discovered that bottling a Vintage Port ensures that the flavors come into their own even better, and perhaps even more importantly, that the port will last much longer. Ideal port for a wine cellar or wine storage cabinet.
The Late Botteld Vintage Port (LBV) is not officially a Vintage port, but a variation on it. LBV is made from the better vineyards. The name already reveals a bit what LBV is.
LBV port is matured in wooden barrels for much longer. Namely between 4 and 6 years and is therefore much further in the ripening process. The LBVs can therefore be drunk immediately. LBV port only has a small amount of sediment in the bottle because they are filtered. Vintage port must be drunk within 2 days, LBV on the other hand is very good for one month after the bottle is opened. That is why an LBV bottle often has a short cork with cap that you can close again after opening. There are also a number of LBV ports with a long cork. These are better kept for a long time in a cellar or wine storage cabinet and may contain some more sediment.
When a porthuis wants to place an LBV port on the market, it has to have it declared by the Instituto de Vinho do Porto. This happens 4 years after the harvest between 1 March and 30 September of that year. Bottling must therefore take place again between 1 July of the 4th year after the harvest and 31 December of the 6th year after the harvest. Due to the strict requirements of the Instituto de Vinho do Porto you are assured of a good glass of port.