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Silva Reis Late Bottled Vintage Port
The Silva Reis Late Bottled Vintage Port 2018 is a powerful, concentrated Port for dark chocolate, strong cheeses and moments when you want depth and softness together in the glass. The difference from a classic Vintage Port lies precisely in the longer barrel aging, which makes the wine rounder and more immediately drinkable as soon as it is released. What is Late Bottled Vintage Port? It is a Port from a single vintage that is bottled later, usually between the 4th and 6th year of aging, so that it gains more suppleness and roundness than a young Vintage Port.
Vineyards and region
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.
Vinification and aging
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.
Grape composition
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.
Tasting notes and serving suggestions
Deep and dark in color, with an intense nose of black cherry, cistus, dark chocolate and a discreet hint of wood. On the palate, this LBV is powerful and concentrated, with great fruit depth, grip and a clear, ripe structure. The finish lingers long and gains extra tension from a persistent freshness.
- Serving temperature: 16 °C works best here, as this beautifully allows the concentration, chocolatey depth and round texture to open up.
- Dishes: Dark chocolate and strong cheeses pair beautifully with this, as this LBV has enough power, sweetness and structure to handle rich flavors well.
More information about Silva Reis
The Silva Reis family has been involved in the Port sector for 4 generations. Manuel da Silva Reis, in particular, gave the brand extra weight by expanding the Douro properties in the post-war period and specifically selecting the best plots for Port production. Within Real Companhia Velha, Silva Reis still stands for a classic, terroir-driven Port style with great attention to origin and aging.
Product details
| Availability | Only 12 in stock! |
|---|---|
| Alcohol content | 20.0% |
| Vintage | 2018 |
| Size | 0.75L |
| Region | Douro |
| Land | Portugal |
| Producer | Silva Reis |
| Varietal(s) | Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Barroca, Tinta Roriz |
| Oak aging | Yes, 4 years in oak barrels |
| Ideal serving temperature ? | 16°C |
| Storage at perfecte wijn | Air conditioned at 18°c |