TN: 2007 Niepoort Batuta Douro

[Andy Velebil]

I spent the day reorganizing my offsite, mainly to consolidate storage boxes and to bring things home which are ready to drink. I also finally got around to opening some original wood cases in the process, one being a case of 2007 Batuta. I was a bit shocked to see one bottle had leaked pretty good, leaving the level about upper shoulder. No question that was going to be opened later in the day. When I pulled the cork later and examined it it appeared to be a faulty cork, as there was a seam running the length of it where it had leaked from. I decanted it a couple hours and dove in. I could tell right away it wasn't up to the normal level this wine possesses. Lighter red fruit with a sharpness on the back end, softened tannins, and seriously lacking the complexity this normally shows. All in all, it was still drinkable but more akin to a basic Douro wine than a Batuta. Oh well, no biggie, it happens sometimes.

Not rated.