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.

Established in 1815, Fonseca belongs in the first rank of Vintage Port houses. It is regarded as one of the most stylistically consistent of the classic Vintage Port houses and its Ports have been made by five generations of the Guimaraens family since its foundation. This consistency derives not only from continuity of family involvement, and the knowledge and skill passed down from one generation to the next, but also a close link with the vineyard. The firm’s three estates of Panascal, Cruzeiro and Santo António are the heart of the distinctive character of Fonseca’s Vintage Ports. Like Vintage, LBV is a very high quality Port from a single year. However, unlike Vintage Port, which is bottled after only two years in wood, LBV is bottled after four to six years and is ready to drink when bottled.

The wines used to produce Fonseca LBV were drawn from a reserve of some of the best full-bodied red Ports produced at the 2015 harvest, from grapes grown on Fonseca’s own vineyards and on other top properties in the Cima Corgo and Douro Superior areas of the Douro. LBV Unfiltered is aged in large wooden vats and then drawn off into bottle with no fining or filtration. The result is a naturally expressive wine which has sacrificed none of its depth and fullness of flavour. Late Bottled Vintage is bottled when ready to drink. This Port benefits from being decanted before serving, as it is not filtered when bottled.

Fonseca LBV is the perfect finish to any meal. It benefits from being decanted and is excellent with fully flavoured cheeses, especially blue cheeses such as Stilton or Roquefort. It is also delicious with desserts made with chocolate or berry fruits.