2015 Niepoort
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Tasting notes
The 2015 Vintage Port is a field blend from old vines (80 to 100 years old). It comes in with 104 grams per liter of residual sugar. This is another gorgeous Vintage Port from Niepoort this issue, elegant, but very powerful and focused. I may have a minor preference for the Bioma this issue, but reasonable minds might differ and this is very fine. The tightly wound precision and serious backbone make this a 2015 with plenty of room to grow in the cellar, but that's not all. It has fine intensity of flavor and freshness to go with the big tannins here, making this a very serious Port on all fronts. It is impressive overall. It was a tank sample when seen, but it was the final blend and due to be bottled in two weeks when tasted. It should be in the marketplace by the time this article appears.
Critic scores
Average Score
James Suckling
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
Cask sample. Inky crimson, totally opaque. Fabulous wild, dark-fruited intensity. Elderberry and black plums, deep, long and chewy. A savoury character like roasted potato skins. Stunning complexity already. Deep and long and a great combination of sweet and savoury. (JH)
This shows the elegance of the vintage. Not many port shippers are declaring but this exhibits length and firmness with structure. Medium to full body, light sweetness and lots of blackberry, blueberry and raspberry character. Very pretty length and firmness. Should be outstanding. Try in 2025. May 2017, www.jamessuckling.com
The 2015 Bioma Vinha Velha Vintage Port is a field blend from old vines (80+ years) in the Pisca Vineyard. It comes in with 119 grams per liter of residual sugar. This is marvelous, and I liked it even a bit better than the regular Niepoort Vintage Port, also a star of this vintage. Very hard edged but even more flavorful, this has fine concentration for the year, plenty of power and the capacity to age a long while. This year it leans a little more to power than big fruitiness, but it has everything, including this vintage's freshness. It will require some patience, though, unless you're a masochist. I'd try it around 25 years of age, even if approachable earlier, as it may be. This is set for release in February 2018. It was not bottled when seen, so consider this a preview. Right at the moment, it looks like a Wine of the Vintage candidate.