Niepoort
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For laying down,
Low yielding ancient vines in some very privileged locations (Mendiz, Soutelo and Pisca inter alia) have combined to make what Dirk describes as a ‘perfect year for Vintage Port’, and, tasting the evidence, we are disinclined to demur.
Destemming was not deemed necessary; such was the quality of the vintage. The wine has an incredible dense colour and a pronounced nose of graphite, black tea and spice. Black pepper and dark fruit inform the palate, which is fresh, pure and powerful.
Simon Field MW, Port Buyer
Destemming was not deemed necessary; such was the quality of the vintage. The wine has an incredible dense colour and a pronounced nose of graphite, black tea and spice. Black pepper and dark fruit inform the palate, which is fresh, pure and powerful.
Simon Field MW, Port Buyer
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For laying down,
80-years of age at their youngest, these venerable vines at the beautiful Vinha da Pisca have been foot-trodden in unique circular lagares and aged in pipas for their (cold) second winter. Near opaque in colour and aromatically reticent, the wine starts to sing on the palate, where dark chocolate and dark fruit do not presage a heart of darkness but rather an exceptionally pure and powerful core, bolstered by dense assertive tannins and a fresh, incisive finish.
Simon Field MW, Port Buyer
Simon Field MW, Port Buyer
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Showing 1-2 out of 2 items
While several notable Scots and English families (Graham, Warre and Taylor, for example) emigrated to the Douro valley in the 18th century, others from Port-importing countries did likewise, and the Niepoorts arrived from the Netherlands.
Dirk Niepoort now runs the firm, with a dedication and enthusiasm that has made him one of the most popular figures in the wine trade. Niepoort was formerly more well-known for its Colheita wines, the vintage tawny Ports that are not often exported.
Dirk has striven to improve the company's Vintage Ports; His vineyards were upgraded (notably most are farmed organically, without any pesticides and herbicides) and the winery completely revamped. As for the grape crushing, Dirk is a passionate advocate of the traditional method of 'treading' (by foot) to extract maximum colour and flavour. These efforts resulted in magnificent examples from recently declared years.
Niepoort Vintage Port has a style that can be appreciated when very young, though as it matures, the wine soon closes up and becomes as long-lived as any.
The company used to buy all its grapes from small growers but since the end of the 1980s, Niepoort has invested in their own quintas. In 1988 it purchased Nápoles, followed by Carril in 1989 and Quinta do Passadouro, an estate made up of four tiny quintas, in 1990.
Dirk Niepoort deserves the accolades he receives for his hard work, though this also means the company's wines have become increasingly scarce.