For The Love Of Port

Tasted at Andy's Los Angeles/O.C. Offline with Oscar Quevedo.

1970 Niepoort Vintage Port

Color: Very dark, a bit surprising for a '70. Also a bit cloudy.
Nose: Lightly spicy, some alcohol, something very lightly green, mildly fermented grape.
Palate: Spicy, elegant. Some warmth. Very well integrated. Very nice. Flavors pop in and out over time - a Niepoort is a Port you want to savor over the entire evening so that you can experience all of the changes.
Finish: Somewhat short, but nice. Smooth and even. Good fruit, good tannins. Fades to sour apple.

Score: 95 points. Edged out the 1968 Quevedo Garrafeira Particular (Colheita) for WOTN. I'd say at least another 10 years to reach its plateau, though it won't peak too much higher than it is right now.

In deference to the 1968 Quevedo, that is one very fine bottling ... but the 1970 Niepoort, although a VP compared to a Colheita ... is one of the really great Niepoort VPs in the 2nd half of the 20th century.

That's probably my bias for Tawny Ports showing.

Actually, I am a big fan of the 1968 Quevedo. It just so happens that I LOVE the 1970 Niepoort and have always been in awe of that particular bottling. It has never failed to wow me.