For The Love Of Port

I've never had the chance to taste one of Dirk Niepoort's ports, but after reading so much about them on this forum I decided that I couldn't miss the opportunity to do so when I found a restaurant serving the 2000 VP by the glass.

The wine had been decanted about 2½ days by the time I had my glassful.

The lighting was not bright so it was difficult to judge the colour accurately. Appeared to be a deep, rich red with no blue edge as far as I could tell.

Nose was wonderfully sweet and inviting - really made my mouth water. Lots of blackberries with hints of alcohol and vanilla.

The initial impact in the mouth is sweet and creamy. Very gentle. Not much fruit initially but then that works through as blackberries and blackcurrants. Tannins are there (even after 2½ days!), gentle but firm, these fade slowly in the mouth leaving the immense acidity obvious. The fruit presence grows with the acidity, really making my mouth water.

Very warming and pleasant aftertaste. Initially this is dominated by sweet creaminess which fades over a very long time into a peppery, chocolate hinted tingle.

Overall I thought this was a very pleasant wine that even my inexperienced palate would expect to improve over time. Not currently a great wine, but one which I enjoyed enough to order a second glass. 90/100.

Alex

I don't know if the 2 and half day the Port was opened did affect it or if it is in a dumb phase but the 2000 was in my top 3 wine of the vintage along with vesuvio and fonseca.

I drunk a bottle of this over at least 3 days last year. It was a bit tough on opening, and never quite got to be quite as damn decadent as the Fonseca, (or even Taylor for that matter), but I suspect it's going to be one of the front runners, in say 20-50 years time!

I agree with Fred here and find the Niepoort 2000 (which I have tasted at least a half dozen times since my cask sample experiences with it. It is a monumental vintage Port and certainly one of the greatest 2000 VPs produced and may wind up as incredible as the 1945 or 1927 Niepoort VPs which to this day stand as the best I've ever had from this producer. It is a tannic beast and will easily make for old bones and should reach 75+ years of age with little problem. Yes, it is THAT big.

I went back to the restaurant that served this wine to me in January and had another meal there - and another glass of the Niepoort 2000. This time it had been in the decanter for 4 days. It was interesting to contrast this time with the last time.

Deep and opaque colour, holding right into the rim. Lots of very sweet vanilla and brambley fruit on the nose.

Smooth and sweet into the mouth bringing gently fruity syrup. Then the mid-palate explodes into a massive wave of tannin that brings a mountain of sweet fruit.

Eventually there is so much sweet, ripe fruit and acidity in the mouth that you just have to swallow. When you do the fruit fades quickly off the back of the tongue leaving a long, chocolately aftertaste on the front and sides of the tongue. This is fabulous today. 94/100.