Niepoort, Vintage Port, 1997

The 1997 Niepoort Vintage Port opens with layers of blackberry, cassis, fig and cocoa, joined by subtle notes of dried rose, tobacco leaf and spice. On the palate, it’s taut yet generous, the sweetness perfectly offset by energy and grip, finishing long, cool and savoury.

A vintage of poise and restraint rather than sheer power, 1997 is considered the best of the decade. Dirk Niepoort, ever the master of understatement and precision, produced one of the vintage’s standouts: dark, brooding fruit wrapped in fine tannins and a lifted, mineral-driven frame that speaks more of refinement than opulence.

Niepoort’s wines are renowned for their longevity, and this vintage is no exception; it’s still evolving gracefully, offering as much intellectual intrigue as sheer drinking pleasure.