Dinner with Niepoort Douro and Port wines

Excellent food and wines gave a remarkable evening with very satisfying hedonistic experiences. Dirk Niepoort's comments and informations were interesting and valuable for a better understanding of his wines.

• 2001 Niepoort Douro Vertente 88 Points

  Portugal, Douro

  2001 Niepoort, Vertente, Douro Tinto (main variety Touriga Nacional), Portugal: Dark brilliant purple, fat tears, tints slightly the glass. Lightly lactic nose, soft fruity. Medium body, intense dark fruity acidity, bit coarse tannins, slightly vegetal. Short finish, velvety acidity. Nice but simple wine.
  
  Score: 50 + 4 for optic + 12 for bouquet + 16 for taste + 6 for overall = total score of 88.
  
  Not blind. Not decanted. Riedel Vinum Chianti glass.

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• 2001 Niepoort Douro Redoma 92 Points

  Portugal, Douro

  2001 Niepoort, Redoma, Douro Tinto (main variety Tinta Amarela), Portugal: Dark ruby, dense tears, tints the glass. Alcoholic dark fruity nose, cool moss, velvety. Plump body, palate coating powerful tannins, dark fruit, acidity well integrated. Long finish, tannins mouth impregnating. Fine match with dove, stand alone a bit green.
  
  Score: 50 + 4 for optic + 13 for bouquet + 17 for taste + 8 for overall = total score of 92.
  
  Not blind. Decanted shortly before tasting. Riedel Vinum Syrah glass.

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• 2001 Niepoort Douro Batuta 95 Points

  Portugal, Douro

  2001 Niepoort, Batuta, Douro Tinto (main variety Tinta Amarela), Portugal: Brilliant dark purple, fat tears, tints the glass. Very decent slightly tartish fruit in the nose, spicy, cool, some black pepper. Medium to plump body, powerful but fine acidity, very velvety tannins, very well balanced, touch of finesse. Very long finish, tannins mouth impregnating with fine acidity. Fine match with braised lamb, stand alone a bit tartish - clearly way to young.
  
  Score: 50 + 5 for optic + 14 for bouquet + 18 for taste + 8 for overall = total score of 95.
  
  Not blind. Decanted shortly before tasting. Glas&Co Döllerer Bordeaux glass.

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• 2002 Niepoort Douro Charme 92 Points

  Portugal, Douro

  2002 Niepoort, Charme, Douro Tinto (main variety Tinta Roriz, early harvest, fermented in Lagares with the stems), Portugal: Bright ruby, fat tears. Soft toast in the nose, bit vegetal, sweet spicy. Medium body, very soft acidity, massive but silky velvety tannins, very persistent. Very long finish, velvety smoky mouth impregnating.
  
  Good but not excellent match with braised lamb, soft enough to be drunken stand alone.
  
  Score: 50 + 4 for optic + 13 for bouquet + 17 for taste + 8 for overall = total score of 92.
  
  Not blind. Not decanted. Glas&Co Döllerer Burgundy glass.

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As white wines and Ports are not my field I took notes only from the dry red Douro wines. But the range of Ports was impressive: Vintage Port 2000 and 1987, Colheita 1987, 1934 an 1863 in excellent condition. Very remarkable was a for me unexpected fine match of a steak with whole green peppercorns with the Vintage Port 2000 - a combination I would never do myself. But the sweetness and structure of the (important!) young Vintage Ports is a perfect counterbalance for the a bit harsh spice