1997 Niepoort Vintage Port

[Eric Menchen]

No formal note here, as I opened this for our 13th Anniversary and enjoyed it with a dinner filled with courses that I thought would go well with the Port.

375 ml bottle, decanted at 12:45, consumed 20:45 or so and beyond, so call it an eight hour decant.

Upon first opening for the decant I noticed a fair amount of fruit. Before dinner I smelled Concord grape. Later the fruit was much more subdued and dried leaves dominated, with some eucalyptus and some autumn leaf pile mixed with dry spice. Color was garnet with bricking at the edge and good clarity. Very nice balance in the mouth, some fruit, more spice, medium sweetness and a little alcohol. Enough tannin, acid, and alcohol to cut the steak. Nice finish.

Impression: At least 93-94 points. If I had been tasting this on its own and being critical, I might go higher.

I think this half bottle might have been better with a slightly shorter decant as the fruit aroma seemed to fade by dinner.

Served with a salad with candied walnuts, pear, and Maytag blue cheese dressing; Chateau Briand; twice-baked potato; cheese course of aged Gouda and a smoked blue cheese from Oregon; and desert was a Port (not the Niepoort VP!) poached pear with more of the candied walnuts and reduction syrup from the poaching.

[Jeremy E]

Impressive notes, Eric, especially since it was for your anniversary.

I'm starting to think about a bottle for my anniversary next month. A 97 Niepoort may be a tough find for a casual shopper such as myself. I guess I'll have to keep tasting till I find something.