1959 Niepoort Colheita (bottled 1978)

[RAYC]

Tasted at Griff's farewell dinner on Tuesday 4 June 2012

• Review of the evening as a whole
• 1959 Niepoort Colheita
• 1960 believed Sandeman
• 1970 Dalva
• 1970 Cockburn
• 1970 Fonseca
• 1970 Berry's own selection
• 1970 Niepoort
• 1977 Delaforce
• 1985 Warre
• 2011 Quevedo
• 2004 Noon Solaire
• 2004 Noon VP
• Organisation thread
• Placemats

[RAYC]

Attractive rancio on the nose. Smooth and not as acidic /concentrated as i had expected in mouth, though some late palate bite gives it a good sense of development. Great persistency to finish, though never huge. Very quaffable.

Gained in complexity and concentration through the evening - becoming really very enjoyable. 90ish at first, though a partially legible scribble indicates i re-scored at [92?] following time in glass.

[Alex Bridgeman]

Bottled 1978. Deep chestnut colour, with a lingering hint of green. Distinctive VA / tawny nose, very rich; full of honey and pistachio paste. Sweet entry, thick texture; honey and lime on the early palate. Oddly empty on the mid palate; vanilla fudge on the late palate. Acidity shows on the late palate, grapefruit sweetened with brown sugar. Tantalising finish, very long and full of honey and grapefruit peel. Aromatic finish, coffee right at the end. This is a big port, holding balance and power in harmany. Served blind, this was guessed to be Niepoort colheita 1974. 94/100.

[jdaw1]

Ni59 colheita bottled ’78: colour honey brown with a green tinge. Taste had lots of age, some heat, soft honey. Good wine, and very drinkable good wine.