Half Bottle: Churchill's Late-Bottled Vintage Port 2019

Late-Bottled means bottled after 4, rather than 2, years in wood. The LBV is a rich concentrated port from one good harvest which has been aged for 4 years in wood. The word "traditional" indicates that it has been bottled without any filtration or refrigeration to allow the port to continue to develop in the bottle. After 2 more years in bottle it is then released for sale. It is now ready for drinking but can be kept, if preferred, for a few more years when it will take on more vintage port characteristics. (19.5% ABV)

Despite the fact that there was no longer any family firm to apprentice himself to, Johnny Graham arrived in Oporto in 1973. He got a job as a trainee with Cockburn's and for the next 8 years worked closely with the ex partner John Smithes in the tasting room, on the production side and in vineyard management. In 1980 at the age of 28 he was made a director. A bright future lay ahead but he wanted to be his own boss.

Johnny married in 1980. Caroline, his wife, is a Churchill. Together they formed Churchill Graham Lda and in 1981 he decided to leave Cockburn's to set up his own Port Wine Company. Despite offers of permanent jobs, he agreed to work as a consultant for Taylor's while starting his Company. In the meantime local Port farmers had learned that he wanted to set up on his own and were keen to help. In particular, Borges de Sousa who had excellent properties offered a deal. Clearly the wine could not be called Grahams - the family business had been sold in 1970 to the Symingtons - so what better name than his wife's maiden name Churchill.

In the beginning, Churchill's rented a lodge in Vila Nova de Gaia from Taylor's but very soon bigger premises were required. With the Port trade in full expansion space was at a premium. Johnny bought three ruined lodges in Rua da Fonte Nova overlooking the river Douro. They have now been fully renovated.

Churchill's has met with increasing success in the USA. With the projected growth in sales it became clear that the Company had to acquire some of its own vineyards to secure on going supply of quality Port. With the purchase of Quinta da Gricha and Quinta do Rio, both renowned Grade A vineyards in the premium Cima Corgo region of the Douro, Churchill's is now in control.

Churchill's Vintage Port spends two years in barrel before being bottled in heavy, dark bottles with driven corks. It is renowned for being full bodied, well balanced with deep plummy fruit, big tannins and superb structure.

Drink Now or Keep

Digestif

Sweet

Medium Bodied

Deep Purple

Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Tinto Crœo, Tinta Barroca, Touriga Franca and Tinta Francisca

Portugal

Churchill's Estate

2019

Contains Sulphites