Ramos Pinto 2017 Late Bottle Vintage Port (LBV)

Ramos Pinto 2017 Late Bottle Vintage Port (LBV) is a polished, traditional Douro Port that delivers real vintage depth without requiring decades of cellaring. Expect a dense, ruby-black core of fruit—ripe berries, dark cherry, and plum—lifted by floral nuance and finishing with confident, well-knit tannins that keep the sweetness feeling composed rather than heavy.

Origins & Craftsmanship
LBV (Late Bottled Vintage) is a single-vintage Port style designed to be approachable earlier than classic Vintage Port, typically benefiting from extended wood aging before release.

For the 2017 Ramos Pinto LBV, the grapes come from the Douro Valley and are hand-harvested and traditionally handled in lagares with foot treading, followed by a short, intense fermentation (about 3–5 days) to build color and extract before fortification. The wine is then aged in Vila Nova de Gaia in large, seasoned wooden vessels (around 15,000 liters), and this bottling is released unfiltered, preserving texture, aromatic energy, and the ability to evolve further in bottle.

Grape blend (2017): 59% Touriga Nacional, 32% Touriga Franca, 7% Tinta Cão, 2% Barroca—a classic Ramos Pinto mix that emphasizes dark fruit, floral lift, and structural grip.

Critics Reviews
Decanter awards Ramos Pinto 2017 LBV 95 points, describing it as a traditional LBV from an excellent year, with power and depth, tight-knit fruit, gentle peppery-spicy grip, and notable floral finesse—with additional bottle-aging potential.

Tasting Profile
Nose: Fresh, vivid red fruit—strawberry, raspberry, and red cherry—layered with floral tones (lavender) and warm spice (clove), with darker fruit depth building underneath.

Palate: Dense and energetic, moving from bright berries into richer black-fruit concentration mid-palate. The texture is plush yet controlled, with noticeable, well-integrated tannins that give the wine its “dry-core” firmness and keep the profile food-friendly.

Finish: Long and flavorful, carrying dark fruit and spice through a structured, tapering close that feels built for both immediate enjoyment and short-to-mid-term cellaring.

Quick Overview