Background: Niepoort is a family company now in its fifth generation and presently managed by Dirk Niepoort. Despite being the second smallest shippers in the trade they are second to none in quality. Already famous for their classic tawny ports, they have now joined the ranks of the great producers of Vintage Port. “Niepoort is to Vintage Port what Krug is to Champagne. They are both small houses in a world dominated by large competitors but they are producing outstanding wines which very few can match. (James Suckling, Vintage Port).

Niepoort 2000 Vintage Port is made with grapes sourced from low-yielding old vines in the Cima Corgo region of Douro Valley. The vineyards are located in at Vinha da Pisca, Vale do Pinhão and Ferrão and they vines have an average age of 60 years plus. The grapes were trodden in “lagares” and later the Port was matured in large wooden vats and also in barrels at Niepoort’s lodges in Vila Nova de Gaia. It is a typical Douro field blend of Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinto Cão, Tinta Francisca, Tinta Amarela, Sousão, Tinta Roriz and others.

Vintage Port must be bottled within two years of the harvest date and be 100 per cent wine from that harvest. Niepoort Vintage Port 2009 has all the ingredients of a classic Vintage year – power and elegance. There were low yields combined with perfect maturation of the grapes, great concentration and on top of that great acidity; it was pretty clear from early on in the vintage it would be a great one.