Late Bottled VintageLate Bottled Vintage 2012
Taylor Fladgate were pioneers of the LBV category, developed to satisfy the demand for a high quality ready-to-drink alternative to vintage port for everyday consumption. Unlike vintage port, which is bottled after only two years in wood and ages in bottle, LBV is bottled after four to six years and is ready to drink when bottled. Taylor Fladgate continues to lead the LBV category of port worldwide, in spite of the fact that many other shippers now also produce an LBV.
The wines used to blend Taylor Fladgate’s LBV were drawn from a reserve of some of the best full bodied red ports, produced at the 2012 harvest, from grapes grown on Taylor Fladgate’s own vineyards and on other top properties in the Cima Corgo and Douro Superior areas.
Notes on Viticultural Year and Harvest
The winter prior to the 2012 harvest was considerably colder and drier than normal with only 183.6mm of rain falling at Pinhão. Budburst occurred under very dry conditions towards the end of the third week in March, followed by very welcome rainfall in April and early May. The vineyards at the end of May showed low vigour, due to the combination of the cooler than normal spring and the extremely dry winter.
The temperatures for the 2012 growing season were very balanced, with no real spikes of intense heat, with the exception of the 24th and 25th June. The vines maintained their lower than usual vigour and the smaller bunches and berries resulted in a low yield for the year.
By mid-August, the canopies covering the grapes were still incredibly luscious and in good condition, helping the grapes to continue ripening during the entire vintage, something that rarely occurs. Picking started on the 18th September and with the exception of some rainfall on the 24th September, the rest of the harvest was carried out under perfect conditions.
TASTING NOTES
Deep ruby, very dark at the core, with a narrow red rim. The nose is elegant and complex, revealing multiple dimensions of aroma. A fine fruity blend of raspberry, cassis, plum and apricot provides the base for delicate floral scents, resiny notes of rock rose and discreet hints of liquorice. The palate has plenty of volume and body, supported by tense linear tannins, and very clean, crisp flavours of berry fruit and plum which continue into the long finish. A beautiful expression of Taylor's LBV, poised and slightly understated, with a finesse and intricacy usually only found in a Vintage Port.
