Wine Reviews

Shows a nice core of dark currant and fig fruit that’s been steeped with anise, alder and bittersweet cocoa. Give this a little time in a decanter or cellar for another couple of winters. Possesses the stuffing to cover slow sipping over a weekend.

Notes of sweet plums, chocolate and cedar with some floral undertones. Full-bodied, dense and mellow with sweet berry character. Creamy and polished. Drink or hold.

The 2016 Late Bottled Vintage Port was bottled in May 2022 with 102 grams of residual sugar and a bar-top cork. It is a field blend aged for 72 months in wood. This is unfiltered, alone among the Fladgate Group’s LBVs. Easily the most expressive of the Group’s LBVs, this is still made in an accessible, easy fashion without big tannins or a lot of depth, and it is not supposed to be a wine to be held and aged a long time. In the long run, therefore, it isn’t really much of a step up, if at all. Key trade-offs here, though, as with its siblings, are a great price point, lots of flavor and immediate accessibility. It is very elegant.

One of the original Late Bottled Vintage brands, this continues to set a fine style. This latest release is full of black fruits that have been softened by extra wood aging. At the same time, the richness of the wine shows strongly and emphatically, giving a Port that has density and ready drinkability.

This is on point now, with gently mulled plum, blackberry and black currant fruit flavors forming the core, while
bittersweet cocoa, roasted apple wood and briar patch notes underscore the finish. This still has kick too, so no
rush.