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I was asked to organise a Port tasting by the Northern Ireland Wine & Spirits Institute, and decided that it would be worthwhile to taste some wood-aged categories that are harder to find in Ireland. So, after much research and many, many emails, we ended up with the following line-up (supplier in brackets):

• First pour - A comparison of some younger tawnies
  • Niepoort Senior Tawny
  • Niepoort 2001 Colheita (both supplied by Robb Brothers, Northern Ireland)
  Second pour - Two contrasting 20 Year Old Tawnies
  
  • Sandeman (Stevens Garnier)
  • Andresen Royal Choice (ex-cellars)
  Third pour - Aged Whites
  
  • Andresen 10-Year Old White (ex-cellars)
  • Andresen 20-Year Old White (ex-cellars)
  Fourth pour - Older Colheitas
  
  • Kopke 1984 Colheita (Weingalerie, Berlin)
  • The Port Society 1974 Colheita (The Port Society)

• Review of the evening as a whole

Well done TPS - a great climax to the tasting, and it did well to beat the tried and tested richness of the Kopke 84. I didn't get time to make a detailed note but I remember it having strong, taut tannins, juice and a supreme finish. Great stuff.

20% opacity, yellowy orangey brown. Hints of tobacco on the nose. On the palate, smooth, nicely balanced, great structure. Lovely sugary fruit - marmalade. I liked this.