This Friday sees the Niepoort tasting hosted by Dirk Niepoort, arrive at Butlers Wine Cellar, Brighton. Niepoort is an independent family business, much like Butlers, but with vineyards, established in 1842.

Dirk is the 5th generation to working in the business alongside his wife Verena, Henry is 2nd generation!

Spotted in the UK, Henry has managed to get Dirk to put in a rare personal appearance to lead this event, so if it's anything like our last Portuguese tasting we should be in for a great evening.

The wines we will be trying should be as follows:

Drink Me White 2012 £11.99.

This entry level, easy drinking white provides complexity, mineral notes and great depth like a classic Duoro wine. Partially aged in used French oak barrels and stainless steel, this wine comes from vines between 20 and 50 yrs old, and is a combination of more than 6 different grape varieties.

Redoma White 2011 £16.99.

Made from 40 year old vines, sited 400-700 metres up on the side of the Duoro river, this wine, a blend of 5 varieties, produces a drink of great intensity, freshness and minerality. The grapes are pressed quickly at night and fermented in French oak barrels on their lees for 10 months. This wine has great ageing potential.

Vertente 2009 £17.25.

Grapes sourced from 20 year old vines in Quinta de Napoles and old vines in the Pinhao valley form the basis of this wine. Fermented in stainless steel tanks and aged in French oak barrels for 18 months, 30% of which were new. Dense, complex and fresh, the wine is ready to drink but has great ageing potential.
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Redoma Red 2010 £28.50.

This was the first still wine produced by Niepoort in 1991 and it remains a touchstone for the company. Produced from 60 year old north facing vineyards and a blend of a number of grapes, the wine is fermented in small stainless steel vats and traditional stone lagares after some traditional foot treading! The wine is then aged in French oak barrels and old oak vats. A strong mineral character with great complexity results, with well integrated tannins and refreshing acidity. This wine had great ageing potential.

Charmes 07 £64.00.

A rare wine from old sheltered vineyards in the Vale Mendiz. Great attention to detail is taken over this wine and only the best barrels are labelled Charmes. Vines are 70 to 100 years old. The grapes, after careful bunch selection in the vineyard and again in the winery, are fermented in stone lagares after traditional foot treading and fermented in French oak barrels, aged for 16 months and bottled with no fining or filtration. The result is a rich, fresh, elegant wine, light in colour, with great structure, velvety tannins, complex mineral notes, great intensity and persistence.
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LBV 2009 £19.00.

Using low production 70 year old vines, the grapes are foot trodden in granite lagares and aged in large wooden vats at the Vila Nova de Gaia. Bottled 4 years after harvest the wine retains a freshness and fruitiness which characterises this particular port. Concentrated, full bodied with firm tannins, balancing acidity and a long finish this wine will age for a couple of decades. Great with chocolate!

10 year old Tawny £34.50.

Blended from aged wines, the Tawny is aged in small wooden casks which confer the wines colour. 60 year old vines help produce a wine that has great structure and a long finish. Sweet fruit and a long subtle finish set the standard for all 10 year old Tawnies.
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That should be enough for anyone but just in case, we will be serving the usual selection of delicious dishes that keep our customers fed and happy!

Venue: Queens Park Road

Date: 21st Feb 2014 - 7:30pm 

Price: £25