LBV Roundup
Posted: 16:08 Thu 05 Nov 2020
At any one time there are about a hundred LBVs on offer from the various producers. Keeping up with that number is a bit daunting.
So, as I have no fireworks to light tonight, here are 24 producers who seem to me to merit some attention:
- Tax exclusive prices shown are from Portugal Vineyards
1) J H Andresen
Sound and proven over time in the LBV stakes - £13.87 (2014)
The company also has a second label LBV under the Cambridge brand which appears to be filtered.
2) Barão de Vilar
A value brand yet with decent critical acclaim, currently on offer at £9.75 (2014)
3) Churchill
Appears to release LBV in two tranches, through merchants at around five years and ex lodge a decade later. The back labels placed on the ex lodge bottles suggest they should have been drunk already!
A good player, but a little high end on price - £19.24 (2015)
4) Crasto
Good critical acclaim for a reliable producer - £16.22 (2015)
5) Cruz
Yes, Cruz! This company has taken to releasing LBVs at around 16 to 17 years of age and gaining respectable reviews. A very reasonable price, given the age - £13.28 (2003)
6) Dalva
Another name that is not often associated with quality wines in the ruby spectrum, Dalva currently has three LBVs on offer, filtered, unfiltered and bottle matured.
The 2011 unfiltered LBV scored 92pts from Robert Parker, the highest score (alongside Noval) for any of the current crop of LBVs. The 2002 bottle matured is also the oldest LBV offered by PV – both are offered at £18.80
7) De la Rosa
An often seen player in the LBV stakes, the current offering scored 91 pts from Wine Enthusiast - £15.71 (2014)
8) Ferreira
The Sogrape houses seem to be in the ascendant at the moment. This wine has enjoyed good acclaim and is moderately priced - £13.80 (2015)
9) Fonseca
A longstanding player in the quality LBV stakes, the current Fonseca is well-reviewed and reasonably priced - £13.43 (2014)
10) Javali
For the past decade, this producer has cropped up regularly in lists of declared VPs, yet I don’t think I’ve ever seen a bottle.
And no obvious reviews of the LBV either.
A mystery this one, but high end priced so they must think it’s good.
Included for intrigue value - £19.24 (2013)
11) Messias
Messias currently offers two LBVs, a 2013 which is currently the cheapest LBV offered by PV at £7.32, yet nevertheless gained a 90pt score from RP.
They also have a 2004 on offer (from Q. Cachao) at £18.87
Not clear whether they intend to settle on a double release, or are just clearing some remnant stock, however the 2013 looks stunning value, given the score.
12) Niepoort
Dirk does not market his LBVs as unfiltered, but they always have driven corks and age very well. One of the earliest to release, the 2016 is probably not far away. Excellent value - £11.07 (2015)
13) Nova
Not to be confused with Noval, Nova seems to be a competent player, the current offering earning a 90pt RP score - £14.61 (2014)
14) Noval
Noval offers both filtered and unfiltered LBV, and just to confuse matters further, the current unfiltered offering is younger than the filtered.
At £18.80, the 2011 filtered seems to be putting faith in the vintage year rather than the critical acclaim. The 2013 unfiltered however earned 92 pts from RP - £17.47
15) Offley
Well reviewed and reasonably priced, another good Sogrape offering - £13.21 (2014)
16) Pacheca
I don’t know much about this producer or indeed wine, aside from a reasonable price relative to its reviews. I’m not even sure if it is unfiltered or has a driven cork, the photos look a bit ambiguous.
But this company has a very tasteful designer in tow, so even if the content disappoints, the bottle looks good - £12.47 (2014)
17) Portal
A brand I’ve been aware of for ages, yet no certain recollection of ever trying one of their wares.
Another elegant bottle design, and this time assuredly unfiltered - £15.49 (2013)
18) Quevedo
Every other producer either says unfiltered, or leaves you guessing. Quevedo however states that they use ‘soft filtration’ on their LBVs.
A sound middle road player both in terms of reviews and pricing - £13.65 (2014)
19) Ramos Pinto
A company that takes LBV very seriously, their most recent offering earning the highest LBV score from the Portuguese Vinho Grandes Escolhas - £17.92 (2014)
20) Romaneira
Well reviewed with a mid range price, listed as unfiltered - £14.31 (2014)
21) Sandeman
The 2015 Sandeman LBV was definitely a cut above the older offerings when their LBV vertical was shown at the BFT last year. 91pts from RP - £14.90 (2015)
22) Tecedeiras
Well reviewed, unfiltered wine, slightly on the expensive side, but perhaps worth a voyage of discovery to sample this little seen producer’s wares - £17.99 (2014)
23) Vista Alegre
Billed not only as unfiltered, but also as having big aging potential. The latest offering not only has an excellent critical rating but is also one of the cheapest. Superb value - £9.82 (2013)
24) Warre
Last but not least, the best known of the unfiltered LBVs. Whilst sometimes credited as the best unfiltered LBV, it has a lot of competition these days. The current offering is 2007 but the 2008 appears to be imminent - £15.41
- So, what great names have I missed out?
So, as I have no fireworks to light tonight, here are 24 producers who seem to me to merit some attention:
- Tax exclusive prices shown are from Portugal Vineyards
1) J H Andresen
Sound and proven over time in the LBV stakes - £13.87 (2014)
The company also has a second label LBV under the Cambridge brand which appears to be filtered.
2) Barão de Vilar
A value brand yet with decent critical acclaim, currently on offer at £9.75 (2014)
3) Churchill
Appears to release LBV in two tranches, through merchants at around five years and ex lodge a decade later. The back labels placed on the ex lodge bottles suggest they should have been drunk already!
A good player, but a little high end on price - £19.24 (2015)
4) Crasto
Good critical acclaim for a reliable producer - £16.22 (2015)
5) Cruz
Yes, Cruz! This company has taken to releasing LBVs at around 16 to 17 years of age and gaining respectable reviews. A very reasonable price, given the age - £13.28 (2003)
6) Dalva
Another name that is not often associated with quality wines in the ruby spectrum, Dalva currently has three LBVs on offer, filtered, unfiltered and bottle matured.
The 2011 unfiltered LBV scored 92pts from Robert Parker, the highest score (alongside Noval) for any of the current crop of LBVs. The 2002 bottle matured is also the oldest LBV offered by PV – both are offered at £18.80
7) De la Rosa
An often seen player in the LBV stakes, the current offering scored 91 pts from Wine Enthusiast - £15.71 (2014)
8) Ferreira
The Sogrape houses seem to be in the ascendant at the moment. This wine has enjoyed good acclaim and is moderately priced - £13.80 (2015)
9) Fonseca
A longstanding player in the quality LBV stakes, the current Fonseca is well-reviewed and reasonably priced - £13.43 (2014)
10) Javali
For the past decade, this producer has cropped up regularly in lists of declared VPs, yet I don’t think I’ve ever seen a bottle.
And no obvious reviews of the LBV either.
A mystery this one, but high end priced so they must think it’s good.
Included for intrigue value - £19.24 (2013)
11) Messias
Messias currently offers two LBVs, a 2013 which is currently the cheapest LBV offered by PV at £7.32, yet nevertheless gained a 90pt score from RP.
They also have a 2004 on offer (from Q. Cachao) at £18.87
Not clear whether they intend to settle on a double release, or are just clearing some remnant stock, however the 2013 looks stunning value, given the score.
12) Niepoort
Dirk does not market his LBVs as unfiltered, but they always have driven corks and age very well. One of the earliest to release, the 2016 is probably not far away. Excellent value - £11.07 (2015)
13) Nova
Not to be confused with Noval, Nova seems to be a competent player, the current offering earning a 90pt RP score - £14.61 (2014)
14) Noval
Noval offers both filtered and unfiltered LBV, and just to confuse matters further, the current unfiltered offering is younger than the filtered.
At £18.80, the 2011 filtered seems to be putting faith in the vintage year rather than the critical acclaim. The 2013 unfiltered however earned 92 pts from RP - £17.47
15) Offley
Well reviewed and reasonably priced, another good Sogrape offering - £13.21 (2014)
16) Pacheca
I don’t know much about this producer or indeed wine, aside from a reasonable price relative to its reviews. I’m not even sure if it is unfiltered or has a driven cork, the photos look a bit ambiguous.
But this company has a very tasteful designer in tow, so even if the content disappoints, the bottle looks good - £12.47 (2014)
17) Portal
A brand I’ve been aware of for ages, yet no certain recollection of ever trying one of their wares.
Another elegant bottle design, and this time assuredly unfiltered - £15.49 (2013)
18) Quevedo
Every other producer either says unfiltered, or leaves you guessing. Quevedo however states that they use ‘soft filtration’ on their LBVs.
A sound middle road player both in terms of reviews and pricing - £13.65 (2014)
19) Ramos Pinto
A company that takes LBV very seriously, their most recent offering earning the highest LBV score from the Portuguese Vinho Grandes Escolhas - £17.92 (2014)
20) Romaneira
Well reviewed with a mid range price, listed as unfiltered - £14.31 (2014)
21) Sandeman
The 2015 Sandeman LBV was definitely a cut above the older offerings when their LBV vertical was shown at the BFT last year. 91pts from RP - £14.90 (2015)
22) Tecedeiras
Well reviewed, unfiltered wine, slightly on the expensive side, but perhaps worth a voyage of discovery to sample this little seen producer’s wares - £17.99 (2014)
23) Vista Alegre
Billed not only as unfiltered, but also as having big aging potential. The latest offering not only has an excellent critical rating but is also one of the cheapest. Superb value - £9.82 (2013)
24) Warre
Last but not least, the best known of the unfiltered LBVs. Whilst sometimes credited as the best unfiltered LBV, it has a lot of competition these days. The current offering is 2007 but the 2008 appears to be imminent - £15.41
- So, what great names have I missed out?