From wacky maverick to the highest profile and most respected winemaker in the Douro Valley, Dirk Niepoort’s journey has been a long one, even if it has been in a pretty short time. But at least in the last few years he hasn’t been on the road by himself, but rather assembled an incredible team of talent to help take Niepoort to even greater heights. Luis Seabra and Nick Delaforce looking after wines and ports respectively, whilst Verena Niepoort, José Teles and Rodrigo Nogueira (now like the Niepoort family themselves, now in their 5th generation of service to this remarkable business) oversee things from Porto. Niepoort’s breath-taking new winery (at Quinta Nápoles) has given the winemaking team more scope to develop and new lodges (in addition to, rather than instead of the original one) in Gaia have improved the capacity for bottling and dispatch.
Of the NiePOoRTland twins, although similar at the outset, with time, Tawny Dee acquires great wisdom and subtleness through ageing in small old oak casks in our cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia exhibiting discrete characters of dried stone fruits. This refinement is further enhanced by the years of experience of our Master blender José Nogueira. A complex port with great character inspired by Alice in Wonderland’s famous Tweedle twins. Niepoort Tawny Dee, with an average age of three and a half years, originates from low yielding vineyards in the Cima corgo region of the Douro Valley. The grapes are predominantly trodden in lagares, prior to ageing in small old oak casks at our lodges in Vila Nova de Gaia.
Brick red/tawny in colour, with delicate nutty aromas and a hint of dried fruits. On the palate, very well balanced with a youthful fruity, luscious character, which integrates well with a long spirity finish.