Crusted is usually a blend of two or three vintages and this December 2014 bottling (there were two in December – the month and year of bottling are given on the front label) is mainly 2013 and 2012 ports from Vale de Mendiz and Pinhão Valley vineyards (the earlier 2014 bottling was mainly 2011 and 2012). Vines aged over 60 years and over 100 years. Grapes were foot-trodden with 100% stems in lagares in Vale de Mendiz prior to being aged in large old wooden vats. Dirk Niepoort describes this rather self-deprecatingly as ‘offcuts of vintage port’. As the name suggests, it throws a sediment. Total production was just 10,000 litres. Slightly deeper colour, less brightly crimson, than the LBV 2014 but still deep. Lovely floral notes as well as all that Douro dark fruit. Spice and celery salt. Firm, compact tannins, al dente. Freshness is all there but it is underneath the generosity of the fruit and thus not so obvious. Firm but succulent. Richer than the LBV but equally perfectly balanced. Sweetness of fruit and rounded tannins make this delicious with the salty blue cheese. And it is great with the cheddar, which is sweet and strong and really nutty and becomes more creamy with the port. 17 points