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It's been a while since I've had Port and all I wanted was to be slapped in the face with a big tannic fruit bomb and so the Niepoort 2017 was selected - mainly influenced by George's notes and fondness for the half bottles he's working through.

Decant +12hrs
The excitement was building and then I went for the sniff. Sadly, very closed. I then went for a little sip, doubly closed. I put away the decanter and raided my parents stash for something else.
Decant +36hrs
I had just got the kids down and then wandered over to the decanter and a sniff. Less closed and a bit cherry on the nose. Not huge but an improvement. On the palate, still quite closed to what I remember from my last bottle but enjoyable none the less. Notes of blackcurrants, and maybe some strawberry (this could very well have come from whatever the kids had slobbered on me). I have 4bottles remaining. I might wait 10 years.

As I finished the bottle a terrible thought crossed my mind - have I lost my Port reference points? I reassured myself with the thought of rectifying with more Port.

That’s a very useful note Zak, thank you. Niepoort 2017 was my wine of the vintage, and it’s a vintage which produced some pretty good wines. 8 years later, it might well be in a bit of a sulky mood.

I shall leave mine a while longer.

I have halves of the 2017 Niepoort, thus far unopened. Maybe I'll try one..