Are LBVs from generally declared years commonly better?

Raj Patil · Post by **Raj Patil** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 4:31 pm

In my limited experience I've noticed that LBVs from generally declared years are much more concentrated and and complex. Does anyone find this as well? Is it my mind playing tricks?

Alex R · Post by **Alex R** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 4:51 pm

I see your point as well, like quinta do noval lbv 97 and 94 are their highest rated lbv,according to Roy’s 1994 quinta do noval lbv is the best he ever had for a late bottled vintage port.(check Roy's tasting notes)

Al B. · Post by **Al B.** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 5:02 am

I have limited experience with LBV ports and haven't tasted enough of them from enough producers and a sufficiently wide range of years to be able to give anything other than a gut feel answer.

But, in my limited experience, I have been very impressed with some recently tasted LBV's from declared years.

I must admits, I do wonder why the juice that has been used to make these LBVs was kept apart from the vintage wines.

Alex

Raj Patil · Post by **Raj Patil** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 8:48 am

Alex, you ask a great question. I was wondering if anyone knows if it is pretty close to the same juice unsed in the VP. In other words, my understanding is the IVDP limits the amount of VP that can be produced. I was wondering if whatever isn't used in second bottlings then proceeds onto blending for LBVs.

If that is the case, than I would expect that LBVs from classic vintages would carry many of the same characteristics of their big sister Vps.

I wish that "left over" juice blended for the VP that exceeded the amount of VP to be released would be left in the barrel for extended aging and then sold as a LBV. This is what the name suggests to me.

Maybe Roy or Mario has connections in which they could find out. I think it would help the LBV market if we knew what we were buying. This would help us match expectation of the wine with the experience when opened.

Derek T. · Post by **Derek T.** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 2:11 pm

I recently encountered an LBV that has made me wonder about this question.

I bought a case of Porto Da Silva LBV 1995. On the back label there is a statement to the effect that only 500 cases of this wine was produced and bottled by Quinta do Noval for exclusive shipment to the UK. It states that the grapes are from Quinta do Noval and a "rigourous selection" from other Noval properties.

This is an unfiltered LBV with huge amounts of fruit and cheek sucking tannins. Quite different to any other LBV I have had and, to me, does not seem to be ready to drink just yet. With extended decanting it is a quite beautiful drink.

The spooky thing is, there was no Noval Nacional declared in 1995

I wonder if this is a coincidence or is this where the NN grapes end up in undeclared years?

Derek

Incidentally, it's £9 a bottle 8)