In the cool, riverside lodges of Vila Nova de Gaia, casks of Port have rested and matured for generations - this bottle is the result of what ten years of patience can do to a simple blend of Douro grapes.
Expert's Description
Niepoort 10 Year Old Tawny is a Portuguese Port wine with an average ageing time of 10 years, bottled at 19.5%.
The Port is a blend of several vintages, each of which has rested in old oak casks in Niepoort's lodges until the house's cellar master combines them so the overall average age matches ten years. The long, oxidative cask ageing is what gives the Tawny style its characteristic brown-orange colour and nutty notes, in contrast to the fresher, darker Ruby style.
Niepoort was founded in 1842 by the Dutch van der Niepoort family and for more than a century was exclusively a Port producer, buying grapes and wine from Douro Valley growers and maturing them in its own riverside lodges. Aged Tawnies like this one represent exactly the craft tradition the house was historically built on.
The grape varieties behind this 10-year-old blend include Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinto Cão, Tinta Francisca, Tinta Amarela, Sousão and Tinta Roriz - a broad selection of the classic Douro grapes traditionally used in Port production.
Tasting Notes
Nose
Dried apricots, candied orange peel and a nutty character of almond and hazelnut.
Palate
Full-bodied and creamy with sweet, ripe fruit, caramel and a faintly spicy warmth, carried by soft, integrated sweetness.
Finish
Long and smooth, with lingering notes of dried fruit, ginger and a touch of honey.
Specifications
Name: Niepoort 10 Year Old Tawny
Winery: Niepoort
Region/Country: Douro, Portugal
Type: Portuguese Port Wine (Tawny, 10 years)
Grape varieties: Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinto Cão, Tinta Francisca, Tinta Amarela, Sousão, Tinta Roriz
ABV: 19.5%
Size: 70 CL
Ageing: Oak casks (average 10 years)
EAN no.: 5602840030008
Serving suggestion: Serve lightly chilled at 14-16°C in a Port glass, with nutty desserts, mature cheese or on its own
Flavour Profile
Nutty · Creamy · Dried fruit · Smooth
Did You Know?
Aged Tawnies like this one carry no fixed vintage on the label, because by definition they are a blend of vintages - it is the cellar master's palate, not the calendar, that decides when the ten years have been "reached".
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