Niepoort Colheita 2014

Learn More About This Wine

Colheitas are Tawny Ports from a single harvest. The minimum required ageing is seven years, but it is a Niepoort tradition to age the wine for many more years before bottling. The wine matures in the cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia in small oak casks under the care of Master Blender José Nogueira.

The 2014 harvest in the Douro was marked by unstable weather conditions throughout spring and summer, with periods of heavy rainfall, including a severe storm in July in Pinhao. The preceding winter, particularly wet, helped replenish water reserves and led to an earlier growing cycle. However, high humidity favoured the development of diseases such as oidium. During the summer, temperatures and rainfall were variable, while August was cooler and drier. The harvest, which began in September, took place under lower temperatures and high rainfall, affecting yields. After careful selection on the sorting table, the grapes were crushed with stems and transferred directly into granite lagares, where they were foot-trodden prior to fortification.

Fragrant and lifted, with violet and floral notes overlaying a core of red berries and a subtle rhubarb freshness. The palate shows early tawny development, bringing butterscotch, dried fig and a gentle nuttiness, all held in check by a fine line of acidity. Textured yet precise, avoiding excess weight. The finish is long, tapering into a delicate, spicy edge with lingering dried fruit.