Some vintages become legends while they are still resting in the vat. 2003 was one of those summers, when the sun scorched the Douro's schist so intensely that almost every Port house in the valley chose to declare the same year.
Expert's Description
Niepoort Vintage 2003 is a Portuguese Vintage Port from the Douro Valley, bottled at 20%.
The grapes come from a traditional Douro field blend of varieties including Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca and Tinta Roriz, picked in an unusually hot, dry season. After fermentation the wine spends a short period in large oak vats before being bottled unfiltered, ready to develop for decades in the bottle.
Niepoort was founded in 1842 by the Dutch van der Niepoort family, who settled in Vila Nova de Gaia to trade in Port wine. Today the house is run by the fifth and sixth generations, with Dirk Niepoort widely credited for putting the family name firmly on the world stage.
2003 is regarded as one of the great, broadly declared vintages in Port history, and Niepoort's wine is frequently singled out as one of the most complete from that year.
Tasting Notes
Nose
Deep and complex, with preserved blackberry and dark cherry, blackcurrant and violets, spiced with dark chocolate, liquorice and a cool touch of menthol.
Palate
Concentrated yet poised, where sweet dark fruit and cherry liqueur ride on lively acidity, while the abundant, fine tannins give an almost chalky grip.
Finish
Long and layered, with cocoa, roasted coffee, black pepper and a mineral drive that carries on into blackberry and a hint of orange peel.
Specifications
Name: Niepoort Vintage 2003
Winery: Niepoort
Region-Country: Douro, Portugal
Type: Vintage Port
Grape varieties: Traditional Douro field blend, incl. Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca and Tinta Roriz
ABV: 20%
Size: 70 CL
Ageing: Oak vat (short, then bottle ageing)
Vintage: 2003
Flavour Profile
Powerful · Complex · Dark fruit · Long-lived
Investment Potential
2003 is one of the rare vintages where virtually every major Port house chose to declare the same year, which makes fine bottles from this vintage sought after among collectors. Niepoort's wine is regularly cited as one of the most finely built of the season, with an ageing potential stretching several decades ahead.
Did You Know?
The extremely hot European summer of 2003 produced such small, concentrated grapes that several Douro producers had to pick earlier than usual to preserve freshness in the must - one reason the vintage is regarded today as unusually powerful yet surprisingly fresh.
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