20 Year Old Tawny Port by Niepoort

[Andy Velebil]

This was bottled in 2000, so in my quest to learn how various Ports do with bottle age I bought it. Lots of mahogany and maple on a thick nose. While on the palate there is the familiar spices, mahogany, carmel, cedar, and cinnamon, it seems to have lost that freshness that I love about this Port. The sweetness is now edging out that wonderfull overall balance that recently bottled ones have. While the freshness isn't as crisp, and honestly most people probably wouldn't notice it unless they've had plenty of experience with this Aged Tawny, it none-the-less hurts the overall experience of this particular bottle. That said, I am still impressed with how well this has held up over the prior 11 years.
91 Points