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The statement regarding Vintage Port developing complexity primarily in the bottle is accurate and highlights a crucial aspect of how this wine matures. Vintage Port is a fortified wine made from the best grapes of a single harvest, and after being bottled, it can age for many years, as the tannins and other components continue to interact and evolve. This bottle aging allows the wine to develop tertiary flavors such as dried fruit, chocolate, and spice, providing depth and complexity that is characteristic of well-aged Vintage Ports.
In contrast, the method of production and aging in casks, or the readiness of the wine shortly after bottling, does not apply to Vintage Port in the same way. It is typically aged in barrel for a period, but its true character, richness, and complexity develop significantly while in the bottle. Additionally, Vintage Port is not a blend of several years' harvests; instead, it consists of grapes from a single vintage, which is a defining quality of this prestigious style.