The origin of this LBV is firmly rooted in the Douro, the birthplace of Port. The wine is made from grapes from 3 of the house's own quintas, which immediately gives it a clear regional base.
- Location / Origin: The grapes come from Quinta das Carvalhas, Quinta dos Aciprestes and Quinta de Cidrô, 3 of Real Companhia Velha's 5 quintas in the Alto Douro Wine Region. This gives this LBV a blend of different Douro origins within the same family estate.
- Regional context: The Douro is the oldest demarcated wine region in the world and has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2001. For Port, this origin is not a detail, but the legal and stylistic basis of the wine.
- Climate & Influences: The Douro experiences hot, dry summers and cold, wet winters, in a strongly mountainous landscape. This combination helps to produce grapes with a lot of concentration, ripeness and structure, exactly what an LBV needs.
The cellar approach here is entirely focused on concentration, softness and a long, rounded style. The longer aging makes this LBV more accessible than a young Vintage Port, without losing its power.
- Fermentation: Fermentation takes place in stone lagares, followed by traditional foot treading. This ensures powerful but softer extraction and gives the wine the necessary concentration for a serious LBV style.
- Aging / Wood aging: The wine then ages for 4 years in oak barrels. This longer barrel aging gives it more roundness, softer tannins and a more immediately drinkable character than Vintage Port, which stays in the barrel for a much shorter period.
This LBV is not presented as a fixed grape blend, but as a classic Douro field blend from old vines. This suits a Port style in which concentration, depth and terroir are more important than highlighting a single variety.
- Old Vines Field Blend – Douro: The wine comes from old, mixed plantings. Such field blends often provide extra layering, structure and complexity, exactly what you are looking for in a robust LBV.
