After meeting Jeff and Elizabeth for dinner, Megan and I decided to treat ourselves to a little dessert of chocolate and Port once we got back to the house. In the cellar I had a few ports, but one I had been wanting to open since we tasted it back in January caught my eye – the 1992 Smith Woodhouse Late Bottle Vintage (LBV) Port. Smith Woodhouse is located in upper part of the famous Douro valley in Portugal which is where their 17 hectare Madalena vineyard sits. Planted with 45% Tinta Barroca, 35% Touriga Franca, 10% Touriga Nacional and 10% mixed vines, Madalena vineyard produce grapes that are still mostly pressed by workers feet.
The LBV Port bottlings from Smith Woodhouse are produced unfined and unfiltered which makes them fairly unique. The 1992 was bottled in 1996 and was aged minimum of 3 years before its release.
Color – very dark, almost black
Nose – Rhubarb, Molasses, fig
Taste – Brown Sugar, caramel, roasted nuts
Mouthfeel – medium body, doesn’t seem to be overly fortified, not too much of a kick
Finish – long and actual quite dry or drying
This was a very smooth soft and delicious Port that was a great pairing with our Ghirardelli Intense Dark Twilight Delight 72% Cacao Chocolate. Being my first LBV Port, this was quite different from other ports I have had. I usually go for the vintage or the 10/20 year, but the LBV seemed to be a wonderful combination of a 10 year and a ruby. At $27.95 I think this is a great value and a great Port to open up for a family dinner or one to open up and keep around for dessert for a few weeks like me.
Cheers!
Anything Wine 
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