1995 Niepoort Colheita Port

[Christopher Woodman]

Port Lovers,


Recently I had the opportunity to experience A "van der Niepoort Colheita 1995".
What an experience!!!!!.

It was a deliciously soft and rich experience. The sharpness I have come to expect from less delicate portwines is as good as removed from this Divine beverage. The only thing I could think of that evening was "How could I be so shortsited as to only purchase one bottle".

Together with a good friend and fellow port lover I finished the whole bottle in less than two hours. (We took our time) Tragically we did not have a decanter at hand, but after decorking the bottle we let it stand for an hour or so. After pouring our portglasses full we let that stand for a short while. I know we probably must have let it aerate longer and under better circumstances, in a decanter, but the experience was delicious anyhow.

If anybody has experiences with colheita's, and a "van der Niepoort - colheita 1995" in particular let me know.

Sincerely,

Christopher D J Woodman

[Eric Menchen]

That's a young one--glad you liked it. Do you know when it was bottled?

[Andy Velebil]

Christopher,
First let me congratulate you on your first post, and a tasting note no less I am pleased to see you participating here on the forum and look forward to many more posts from you.

As to your question. I assume by "Van der Niepoort" you are refering to a Niepoort Colheita. Dirk Van Der Niepoort (or just Dirk Niepoort for short) is quite a talented wine maker. I've had the 1995 and the 1994, both are very good for young Colheita's and I look forward to seeing how they develop in bottle...my little experiment with a bunch of 1994's I bought a few years back. I've rarely gone wrong with Niepoort Colheita's and although they can be a tad higher priced compared to some others in the same age bracket, IMO they tend to show a little better than most at a younger age. Glad you loved it.

[Christopher Woodman]

Hi Andy,

Yes I do mean Dirk van der Niepoort. (The only Dutch shipper). I have decided to start tasting and noseing more of his port wines in the future. It was a great bottle.


Sincerely,

Christopher

[Roy Hersh]

I have had the 1995 Niepoort Colheita. Although it tastes older than its age, it is still a relative baby in terms of a Colheita and shows only the very beginnings of what a great older bottle of Niepoort can develop. I prefer more influence from time in pipe.

[Frederick Blais]

Niepoort Tawny goes into small cask quicker than other producers, that's why it may looks older than its peer for the same age. Though after longer time in cask, it looks younger as the oxydation process that did happen in its youth no protects it for long term aging. If you compare the 95 to other Niepoort Colheita for the same time spend in cask, it looks younger though, due to the increase of quality of the grapes and juice.

There was a release of 1991 last year, it tastes so good at the moment! Niepoort Colheita is probably the only Port I can afford that I wish to have more in my cellar! there goes a nice theme for a topic!