Niepoort Vintage Port 1985 OWC 6 bottles 4500ml case

Niepoort Vintage Port 1985 – A classic from the Douro

The Niepoort Vintage Port 1985, bottled in 1987, is an exceptional wine from one of Portugal’s most distinguished port wine dynasties. The Niepoort house was founded in 1842 by Franciscus Marius van der Niepoort in Vila Nova de Gaia and is now run by the fifth generation of the family, led by Dirk Niepoort. The house’s wines enjoy a legendary reputation amongst connoisseurs, and the 1985 vintage is regarded as one of the great vintages of the 1980s.

The winemaking process followed the house’s traditional methods. The grapes – including Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinto Cão, Tinta Francisca, Tinta Amarela, Sousão and Tinta Roriz – come from vines over 60 years old in the Vinha da Pisca, Pinhão and Ferrão vineyards, planted on schist soils. The wine was aged for two years in wooden casks before being bottled in 1987.

The tasting notes paint a picture of a wine at an advanced stage of maturity. Wine Spectator awarded the 1985 Niepoort 92 points and described it as “deep purple, with a very jammy, grapey nose; full-bodied, with plenty of velvety, sweet fruit flavours and medium tannins”. Tastingbook awards it 97 points and describes it as: “A semi-sweet flavour combined with its strong structure. Firm and long-lasting tannins, but balanced overall”. The recommended decanting time is two hours; the drinking window is given as 2020 to 2035.

A taster on For The Love Of Port noted: “Upon opening this bottle, I was immediately struck by the aroma of cassis. A mouth-watering start. The colour is almost black, even in full sunlight. I decanted it for about 9 hours. When poured, the aroma is still intense, with plenty of young fruit such as cherries, raspberries and blackberries. It hasn’t reached its peak yet; it still has a few years to go, but it’s definitely a magnificent wine with great potential. I’m giving it 94 points now, but perhaps it will reach 96 in 5 years’ time.”

The Winedoctor described the wine after 21 years of bottle ageing: “The wine has a lovely colour, showing some maturity, but obviously, at just 21 years old, still plenty of red pigment and depth. The nose reveals aromas of dried plums, cherries and even a hint of raspberry, with nuances of dry, charred wood. Very traditional in style and beautifully fresh and lively.” He awarded it 17.5+/20 points.

ThePortForum noted: “Blood-honey, cherry and dark chocolate were all present, giving way to cinnamon, unripe fig and a gentle orange marmalade. The finish proved to be of impressive length” – rated 91 points.

Today, the Niepoort Vintage Port 1985 is a sought-after rarity. Auction prices have recently stood at around 189 euros, with individual bottles fetching between 125 and 198 euros. For lovers of great port wines, this wine offers a rare opportunity to experience a vintage port that bears the hallmark of one of Portugal’s most prominent winemaking families and has retained remarkable vitality and elegance after more than three decades of bottle ageing.