Dark, brooding, and full of soul, this 2019 LBV is a deep dive into ripe blackberries, cocoa, and a swirl of liquorice and spice. The palate is rich and full-bodied, with intense dark chocolate vibes, hints of white pepper and jammy fruit, wrapped up in velvety tannins and a long, smouldering finish. Big energy, balanced beautifully.

If Port had a rockstar persona, Cálem would be headlining the tour. Born in 1859 with a bold dream and its own fleet of ships (yes, really), Cálem carved out its legacy by going big on Tawny - and hasn’t looked back since. From the wild heart of the Douro Superior to the serene aging cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia, this is a house where time is savoured, barrels whisper secrets, and tradition is steeped into every drop. The iconic Arnozelo estate, tucked along the Douro’s south bank, is their spiritual home - 300 hectares of jaw-dropping vineyard terrain, with 100 hectares classified “A” (aka, top-tier terroir). It’s here that grapes like Touriga Nacional and Tinta Roriz ripen under that dry, sunbaked Portuguese sky - only to be coaxed into liquid velvet back at the cellar. LBV stands for Late Bottled Vintage, and it’s basically the sweet spot between youthful swagger and vintage polish. Made from a single stellar harvest - in this case, 2019 - Cálem’s LBV is aged in barrels for 4 to 6 years before release. That extra time lets it mellow out a bit, pick up some serious complexity, and develop the richness of a classic Vintage Port, minus the decades of waiting (or the price tag). It’s bottled almost ready to rock, with plenty of structure, bold fruit, and depth - often unfiltered, sometimes needing a cheeky decant, but always full of character.