Niepoort - Vintage Port 2017 (3L)
Wine Advocate: 99-100 Points
The 2017 Vintage Port is a field blend from old vines (80 to 100 years old). It comes in with 89 grams per liter of residual sugar. This was set for bottling in two weeks but it was the final blend. Even when open for a couple of days this was still tight muscular and concentrated grabbing the palate and never letting go. On opening it was fragrant and delicious but even then there was plenty of muscle and evident concentration. The concentration and power merely improved as it aired out?unlike a lot of 2016s (which year Niepoort did not declare).
James Suckling: 98 Points
Wow. Smoky and intense on the nose with dried fruits and slate undertones. Lots of wet earth too. Full body sweet yet dry and tannic on the palate. Very powerful and focused. Racy and powerful. A fantastic center palate of fruit. A blend of touriga franca tinto cao tinta francisca tinta amarela sousao tinta roriz and others. Drink in 2025 and onwards.
Vinous: 96 Points
The 2017 Vintage Port was picked early to obtain optimal ripeness commencing 24 August and finished 26 September. Yields are some 30% below the previous year. The fruit was foot-trodden in granite lagares and matured in large barrels in Vila Nova de Gaia. It has a refulgent purple colour. The nose is explosive a heady cornucopia of blueberry black cherr
Wine Spectator: 94 Points
A fresh and racy style with loganberry cassis and plum fruit flavors entwined with black licorice sage and violet notes. The finish unfurls slowly keeping latent depth in reserve. Distinctive. Best from 2030 through 2045. 3375 cases made 108 cases imported.
