16°C to 18°C
Bottle standing upright
Not necessary
DOURO
Temperature
16°C to 18°C
Late Bottled Vintage 2015
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The wines used to blend Croft LBV were drawn from a reserve of some of the best full-bodied red Ports produced at the 2015 harvest. These wines were aged in wood and then blended after six years. The blending process ensures that the wine is balanced and complete and that there is continuity of style in relation to previous Croft LBVs.
Tasting Notes: Deep ruby red at the centre fading to a red brick rim. A seductive nose of rich, ripe fruit, with aromas of blackcurrant jam, prune, sultana and fig, blended with notes of liquorice and coffee and wild herbal hints. The palate, which is full of ripe fruit flavour, has a supple, velvety texture supported by a taut sinew of tannin and a thread of lively acidity. A perfectly mature and beautifully balanced Late Bottled Vintage, with the classic Croft roundness and opulence, drinking beautifully now.
viticultural year and harvest
The viticultural cycle was preceded by very low rainfall during the winter months with the weather station at Quinta da Roêda recording precipitation of only 66% of the ten-year average, although rainfall in early winter was suffcient to provide some ground water and avoid drought conditions.
Early Spring was also relatively dry and this was an important factor in ensuring that the crop was perfectly healthy. Dry conditions and some very hot spells in late spring and early summer brought forward the start to the ripening season. However, from mid-July right up to the harvest in September, ripening conditions were balanced and even, with no spells of extreme heat. The bunches at harvest time were perfectly formed and healthy with yields unsurprisingly somewhat below average. The vintage at Roêda got o to a relatively early start on 7th September. Apart from two days of rain, on 15th and 16th September, picking took place in excellent conditions, with warm sunny days and cool nights throughout the harvest.