LBV 2015

Vineyard plots planted on the steep slopes of the River Pinhão at an altitude of between 150 and 400 m, with shale soils that are poor and rough; low yield, but with grapes of high concentration and quality.

The climatic conditions for vines in 2015 were very favourable with sun and little humidity enabling very balanced growth in the vegetation. The year started rainy and cold (January to March), replacing a large proportion of the water reserves in the soil, an important factor to balanced leaf growth at the end of March. Following flowering in May, the fruits began growing homogenously at the start of July, two weeks earlier than in the previous year. At the end of the vegetative cycle, the grapes appeared in an excellent state of health and maturity. In the month of September, the lack of rain and the heat provided the ideal conditions for beginning harvesting.

Fresh grapes at their ideal ripeness are picked by hand into 20 kg boxes. After destemming and gentle crushing, the grapes were placed in stainless steel tanks where they were fermented for 5 days with three delestages a day, undergoing post-fortification maceration for a further three days, producing a highly extracted wine. Aged in old French oak balseiros (vats). Blending was done in March 2019.