For The Love Of Port

Hello All,

I am assembling various port styles from Niepoort for a port tasting evening sometime before Summer. I wanted to keep the House the same in order to maximize the style differences and minimize other differences. So I have Niepoort's: Ruby, 10 year Tawny, LBV 1999, and Vintage Character.

I am looking for advice on the order to serve them in. Also I am looking for advice on which (mature) vintage port year would be a good one to show in this line-up.

Thanks, Steve H

I'd go with the Ruby and Vintage Character face to face; then with the tawny 10 year old. Be sure to make a pause and wash your mouth with bread before getting on the LBV and then the Vintage. You can put Vintage from 87 and earlier I think they are mature enough.

It is important to wash the acidity from the 10 year old away, bread will do the job.

I agree with Fred on the order, Ruby, vintage character, 10 yr, and LBV. If you can find a 1970 Niepoort, then go for it.

I shall reply only because I'll throw in a contrarian view - my personal preference would be to show the Tawny before any of the bottle matured ports. Only because I find them such a different combinations of tastes and flavours that I find they otherwise stand out too much.

My order would be Tawny, Ruby, Vintage Character, LBV, Vintage.

I recently had the Niepoort '91 vintage and would say that this was also ready for drinking.

Alex

Steve,

Why not serve them all blind and in random order and have everyone guess which style of port each one is?

Just a thought

Derek