Along with the 1970 Niepoort, I’ve been grateful to enjoy this Port with some frequency, plus a few times in the past three years, too. It is one of the best old Vintage Ports remaining in the Niepoort family (1945, too), and it was recorked in Vila Nova de Gaia in 1978. One look in the glass, and its dark ruby tone with just a smattering of bricking on the meniscus speaks volumes for this bottling—a testament to Dirk’s late father Rolf, as it was from his birth year but made by Dirk’s grandfather early in his career. Intensity and harmony result in the explosive aromatics, with cinnamon spice and loaded with prune and fresh caramel scents. The palate seemed younger than its age—by several decades—delivering fig, raisin, and toffee flavors, with a rich, silky, and sumptuous mouthfeel, along with profound waves of acidity and sophistication in the mid-palate. The fine aftertaste of this wine was simply astounding in its sheer opulence and provocative persistence. An unforgettable VP! | 97