Special categories of port wines

According to Regulamento n° 242/2010 (March 15), there are several special categories of port, designated vintage, LBV, crusted, colheita, Indi-caqao de Idade (indication of age), and reserve. Besides these special categories, there are tawny reserve, ruby reserve, white reserve, tawny, ruby, white, and rose (Table 5.6). 

LBV is special, single vintage, version of a ruby port. It is aged in wood for longer than a vintage port—between 4 and 6 years. The vintage year is always indicated on the label. Most LBV ports can be drunk with pleasure as soon as they are purchased, but some continue to age well in bottle. The port has a deep, ruby red color, is extremely full-bodied and rich in the mouth. As other vintage-dated wines, it expresses the particular style and personality of a wine produced that year. 

Crusted ports are high quality, very full-bodied, deep colored wines. Crusted ports are a blend of wines from several vintages, aged for a minimum of 2 years in wood and then in bottle for 3 years before release 

TABLE 5.6 Traditional port names and sensorial appreciation level 

Indication of age Tawny reserve Ruby reserve White reserve 

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