TN: 2007 Niepoort Batuta Douro

[Andy Velebil]

Although this was restrained on the nose and palate, I was able to coax out some cherries, licorise and oak the nose. Full bodied and although plenty if fruit, this still retained more of that traditional "Douro" character. Still a baby at this point but has the stuffing and balance to go places in the future. This reminded me of another top end Douro that was very alive and expressive in June right after bottling, then tight and closed up a few months later in October. 94-95 Points

October 2009

[Frederick Blais]

I've tasted twice this wine in February. My first experience was straight from the bottle, it gave me a superbly aromatic wine, complexe, intense, pure, mineral, orgasmic. So for the 2nd experience, I did decant it. It completly shut the wine to a very similar tasting note that you write here. It is the first time decanting a wine made such a reaction.

[Andy Velebil]

It brings up an interesting question I need to ask a producer one day. It seems in some top end wines, shortly after bottling one of two things happens. It stays open for business or it shuts totally down for a period of time. I know "bottling shock" happens due to the severity the bottling line process does, but I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about exactly what Fred mentioned about it shutting down after getting air, when in reality it should be doing the opposite.

Anyone have any similar experiences with the same type of thing happening?

[Pedro Guimaraes]

Thanks for the tasting note Andy...


Until now i'm the proud owner of only one 2007 Douro : Qta do Vesuvio

So my shortlist will include:

2007 Poeira
2007 Qta. do Vale meao
2007 Batuta or Noval or....

I'm was hoping to get the 2007 Gouvyas Vinhas velhas but they released the 2006....maybe I'll have to brake the cherry with the 2006s..a vintage i completely passed!!!

[Andy Velebil]

Pedro,
Even though overall it wasn't a great year, there are still some wonderful Douro wines from 2006. Quinta Vale d. Meao, Crasto, Quinta d. Vale Dona Maria, and even the 2006 Post Scriptum is good.

Love the 2007 Quinta do Vesuvio Douro and it's younger brother the Pombal (which I've already drank about 8 bottles of).

[Pedro Guimaraes]

I was really untouched by all the 2006s i drank, exception made to the 2006 Aneto Grande Escolha and to a lesser extent, the 2006 Poeira...

I tasted the 2006 Vale Meao twice and found it miles behind all other vintages...but i have a soft spot for the Gouvyas Vinhas Velhas so it will be hard to pass


....and then there is the 2005 Robustus, said to be better than the spectacular 2004!!!!

My girlfriend is going to kill me