Niepoort, Late Bottled Vintage (LBV), 2020

Niepoort's LBV challenges everything you think you know about this category. Where most LBVs are filtered for stability and immediate drinking, Niepoort bottles unfiltered, creating a wine that captures some of Vintage Port's depth while remaining approachable. The 2020 shows blackberry, dark chocolate, violets, and a spicy warmth that builds on the finish. Dirk Niepoort has revolutionized Portuguese winemaking, and this LBV reflects his perfectionist approach: fruit from high-altitude Douro vineyards, careful selection, traditional foot-treading. Decant and serve slightly cool with blue cheese or dark chocolate.