10 Year Old Tawny by Niepoort

[Kris Henderson]

I love tawny ports (and colheita) for their unique taste and great value. Though I would love to drink more vintage port, it's something I can only open 4 or 5 times a year. Tawnies and colheitas on the other hand I can open as often as I desire. I have not tasted many wines from Niepoort but I am becoming increasingly impressed with what they are doing. It was also interesting to see that this tawny uses a "normal" cork instead of the usual t-cork seen on tawnies. Anyone know why?

I very much enjoyed this 10 year tawny but for my taste, I usually prefer 20 year tawnies for their added complexity and more woodsy taste. Based on some notes I've read here on the Niepoort 20 year tawny, I think that will be next up on the chopping block. Anyone in Seattle know where I can find a bottle of the Niepoort 20 year locally? Finally, a taste note:

• N.V. Niepoort Porto 10 Year Old Tawny - Portugal, Douro, Porto (8/5/2006)
  This is a very nice 10 year tawny. The color is a dark tawny / red with even concentration of color and good clarity. The nose is expressive giving hints of walnut, earth, dried figs, and spice. On the palate the wine is soft, lush, full, and round, excellent mouth feel. Sweet but nicely balanced with acidity. On the first day, this showed a lot of alcohol on both the nose and the palate. Two days later and slightly chilled there is a slight spicy feel to the nose and no perception of alcohol on the palate. Long finish. 50 + 5 + 12 + 17 + 8 (92 pts.)