NIEPOORT
2015 Vintage Port
A sort of hybrid blend of the 2005 and the 2011 vintages. A beautiful weight of perfectly ripened, dark berry-fruit and then a high-toned elegant lightness of feel. Already this seems brightly vinous and has great line and length. This is clever stuff for a young vintage port. Dirk's friend and rival David Guimaerens called the Niepoort 2015 'a perfect wine' when he tasted it and it is hard to argue against. Balanced, spicy and that lovely weight of fruit. I am looking forward to tasting this again in 10 years or so.L&S (Jun 2017)
In Bond
75cl bottles (wood case of 6)
Duty Paid
75cl bottles (wood case of 6)
* This is a pre-shipment/primeur offer. All orders are accepted under the TERMS of this offer which differ from the terms of the rest of the site.
A Cima Corgo blend from Vale de Mendiz in the Pinhao Valley and Quinta da Pisca downstream: ripe and focused on the nose, though not very expressive or aromatic at this stage, plump berry and plum fruit supported by fine-grained tannins. Firm, balanced but not especially big with lovely, well-defined length. Drinking range: 2028 - 2045 Rating: 92 Decanter Magazine (Oct 2017)
From a blend of 60% old vine fruit from Vale de Mendiz in the Pinhão valley and 40% from Quinta da Pisca (see below): deep and youthful in colour, though not inky black; ripe and focused on the nose, though not very expressive or aromatic at this stage; plump berry and plum fruit supported by fine grained tannins, firm, balanced but not especially big with lovely, well-defined length. Rating: 17+? Richard Mayson, www.richardmayson.com (Sept 2017)
Cask sample. Inky crimson, totally opaque. Fabulous wild, dark-fruited intensity. Elderberry and black plums, deep, long and chewy. A savoury character like roasted potato skins. Stunning complexity already. Deep and long and a great combination of sweet and savoury. Drinking range: 2028 - 2048 Rating: 18 Jancis Robinson OBE MW - www.JancisRobinson.com (Aug 2017)
This shows the elegance of the vintage. Not many port shippers are declaring but this exhibits length and firmness with structure. Medium to full body, light sweetness and lots of blackberry, blueberry and raspberry character. Very pretty length and firmness. Should be outstanding. Try in 2025. Rating: 95 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Jun 2017)
2015 was as perfect as it gets, particularly for port. A year where we had time to think and take time for the right decisions. The weather helped enormously. Picked at the perfect time 40% from our pisca vineyard and 60% from different little parcels, all vineyards over 80 years old the ports were brought to the lagares in vale de mendiz, 100 % with the stems and foot trodden. This resulted in incredible ports with an unusual dimension: amazing structure with fine and intense tannins, great concentration but with balance and harmony. All the elements seem to have found their place to make sure it will outlive the 1955, 1970 perhaps even 1945 (but very different harvest conditions)... the sweetness is hidden by the amazing tannins, the alcohol by the generous concentration, all balanced out by a fantastic natural acidity in 2015. The nose is shy but focused. No overripe pruny character, just a gentle fine, elegant expression of fruit and complexity. A joy just to smell all the hidden elements, the balance and harmony in the bottle promising a great future. To taste in the next years smiling at its youth, to touch in 20 years to enjoy properly and in 40 years really for the next generations to admire what the Douro is able to deliver.Winemaker's notes (Jun 2017)
Niepoort
Bucking the trend once again, as is his way, Dirk Niepoort proudly declared his excellent Vintage Ports in 2015 unlike the rest of the top producers - and this year he is declaring only the Bioma. This is his superior Port from a single plot on a steep slope.' From our tasting this declaration is totally justified. The wine is superb and fascinating. At Niepoort the aim is harmony and balance these are both here with the Bioma 2016 - but it is also a more cerebral wine than others released - a different feel - this is off-beat perhaps but in a good and beguiling way.
At the same time that famous English names were establishing themselves in the Douro, the other great Port importing nation - the Netherlands - was sending bright business types to set up Port Houses. One such was Franciscus Marius van der Niepoort. Five generations later and the dynamic Dirk van der Niepoort is at the helm.
Niepoort used to be well-known for their Tawny and Colheita ports, but Dirk has worked tirelessly to raise the profile of their Vintage Ports too. One of the key moves, with this in mind, was for Niepoort to purchase their own vineyards with Quintas de Nápoles, do Carril and do Passadouro coming under the Niepoort wing at the end of the 1990's.
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