 How's it made? Late Bottled Vintage or LBV means a vintage style port from a single year that has been aged in wood for longer - usually four years. Vintage port is aged in wood for only two years, hence "Late" bottled vintage. Most shippers bottle the port after four years in wood and then age it for four more years in the bottle before offering it for sale. The benefit of this process is a vintage style port that is ready for drinking now.
Drinking - LBV's have generally been filtered and stabilized to a greater degree than true vintage port meaning they should not need decanting. However a lable with "Traditional" or "Bottle Matured" LBV may be unfiltered and will require decanting. Just to make it confusing for us!
Food - LBV should be drinkable like a fine red wine so try it with the meal, roast beef or steaks for example, or after dinner with a strong blue cheese, stilton or roquefort. |