Description

The Crusted Port complements the Niepoort Vintage and Late Bottled Vintage style. Traditionally, Crusted Port is selected from wines of Vintage quality, from two or three harvests, undergoes no fining or filtration prior to bottling and is released three years after bottling.

As the name suggests, Crusted Port creates a natural deposit in bottle, therefore it is important to decant it before serving. This Port is most appealing in its youth but will also benefit from several years of ageing, during which the bottle should be stored lying down.

VINIFICATION

The majority of this Crusted Port bottled in December 2015 comes from various vineyards around the Niepoort winery in Vale de Mendiz aswell as other old vineyards in the Pinhão valley. Grapes were foot-trodden with 100% stems in lagares in Vale de Mendiz before being aged in large old wooden vats in our cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia prior to bottling in December 2015. The production was small, with a total of 10000 Litres.

TASTING NOTES

With a brilliant dark red appearance and good depth on the rim, the wine exhibits aromas of cherries and dark plums along with a fine minty, liquorice aroma. On the palate, well integrated tannins dominate along with superbly evolved fruit and good length. A vibrant wine starting to show some bottle age. It is certainly drinking beautifully now but it can be aged for several decades.