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On Thursday 13^th December 2012 a subset of the obvious suspects gathered at the Bell, Wendens Ambo CB11 4JY, to taste some treasures.

Links:

• Review of the evening as a whole;
• 1830 Sherry (#1);
• 1942 Rebello Valente (#2, JDAW, from THRA);
• 1945 Dow (#3, RAYC);
• Cockburn Crusted, bottled 1928 by Avery’s (#4);
• 1922 Sandeman? (#5, WS);
• Unknown perhaps Croft 1912 (#6, CMAG);
• 1927 Taylor (#7);
• 40 year old Santa Eufemia White Tawny (#8);
• Penfolds Great-Grandfather Tawny (#9);
• 1931 Ramos Pinto (#10, AP);
• 1927 Croft (#11, PW);
• 1927 Taylor (#12, AHB);
• Unknown perhaps a very old colheita (#15, CMAG);
• Niepoort VV, 2012 bottling (#16, DN);
• ‘Placemats’, meaning TN sheets and sticky labels, and the parameters used in their construction;
• Planning and arrangements.

Previously at the Bell: 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008.

Niepoort Jubilee. 170 years of Niepoort!

This was a big surprise for me - to say the least. Dirk brought one of the new VV bottles to the tasting. Having tasted some old Colheitas you could imideately see by the colour and the concentration that this wine, which I just recently heard about, was old - very old. Dirk said that the mother vintage of this blend is 1863. For all of us having tasted the 1863 Colheita two years ago at the Niepoort Vertical in Leverkusen as desert Port, the expectations were very high.

Pitch dark color at the center getting only a little bit lighter towards the edges (much too small to call this a rim) with intense green reflections. Extremely concentrated nose with full toffee and honey flavor, a perfectly supporting acidity and hints of various herbs and tobacco-leaves. On the palate this concentration continues with an impressive, but not overwhelming concentration of dried fruits, caramell, some honey notes and smoke. Extremely long and pleasant aftertaste, which continues to go on and on and on...

In comparison to the VV bottled in the 50s it does show some similarities, especially when it comes down to concentration, but the new VV does combine intensity, elegance and a perfect balance of flavor, acidity and sweetness. Well done and very, very close to perfection. 19+/20

Axel

PS. I am re-tasting the sample which was left in the bottle while writing this.

Furhter information on this at: http://niepoort-vinhos.com/en/ports/VV.html#VV

PPS. This was my second wine of the night. The first being the Dow 1945, which I believe to be a perfect Port. TN to follow soon.

Axel

A new blend of the VV wine, blended by Dirk Niepoort and based on over 50% of the 1863 colheita. Bottled in 2012 - 999 bottles will be filled and sold very slowly over many years.

Chestnut brown at the centre, gold on the rim; 90% opaque. Slightly soapy on the nose, lots of VA. Thick texture, huge acidity on the attack, and a concentration of flavour that builds up to amazing levels. Very concentrated and intense flavours - like perfect balsamic vinegar. A huge explosion of intense flavour on the aftertaste, then a gentle espresso finish that lingers for ages. Fantastic port. 92/100

NI VV, largely 1863. Will bottle 999 bottles. Dark dark brown, 80% opaque. taste of heavy molasses. Slow build to big molasses sweetness. Lots of tobacco, smoke (El Rey del Mundo). Some PX-like flavours. Magnificent.