10 years White Port from Niepoort in Budapest
After the first editions of the Wine on Tour in Paris and Istanbul, with wines from Symington, now was the time for a small European tour with Niepoort wines.
The concept is simple, we challenge the sommeliers and chefs of the restaurants we visit to harmonize some of their dishes with our wine, while showing them some of the best that is produced in our country. Something difficult in wine producing countries, like the ones we’ve been visiting, but always with an excellent outcome.
A toast with a LBV 2011 and the team of La Degustation (*Michelin), in Prague
We started our trip in Prague, where the presence of Portuguese wines little or nothing is felt, with exception for some brands of Port wine, of good quality but usually served in a not so flattering way to our precious nectar.
We started our visit by La Degustation (see), where we made a brilliant harmonization of the dishes with natural juices, homemade, so we had to leave a toast to the end, with the entire team of the restaurant. A wine that represents quite well its awarded year, with an intense color and dark fruit notes, with a mouth able to seduce and captivate all those who tasted it and to it surrendered.
Redoma Branco 2014 at Edvard (*Michelin) in Vienna
From Prague we headed to Vienna, where once again the presence of Portuguese wines doesn’t go further than the Port wines, here with special foccus on the great wines of the region, the Vintage, the LBV and Tawnys over 20 years.
At Edvard (see), the starred restaurant of the Kempinski Hotel, our challenge was taken quite seriously (moreover, the work of the sommelier, Marcel Ribis, harmonizing the entire meal was one of the best we experienced recently), with the chef preparing a dish, off the menu, specifically for the Redoma Branco, in a great combo of Pumpkin and Tallegio cheese. A beautiful moment! Where the mineral side and the elegance with which the barrel gave structure to the wine without overlapping, complemented very well the intensity of the Tallegio, as well as the freshness of the herb sauce and the several textures of pumpkin!
The Senior Tawny decided to pay an homage to the chef Konstantin Filippou (*Michelin – Vienna)
From Edvard, we passed to the room of Konstantin Filippou (see), chef of the year 2016 in Austria by the guide Gault and Millau.
Another great tasting of dishes with a strong creative side and an harmonization with natural wines from small producers. When receiving our challenge, the sommelier was a bit apprehensive for thinking he wouldn’t have a dish to pair with a Douro red, because he had in mind some more heavy and powerful wines of the region.
After tasting the wine – Redoma Tinto 2013 – he understood Dirk Niepoort’s signature, where elegance overlaps concentration and potency, creating wines that make us want to drink a bottle or two.
So, his choice went to an Iberian Pork “presa”, black pudding, corn, cheese and kumquat, which was very pleasant to accompany with the redoma, which complexity of aromas and flavors ballanced brilliantly in the dish.
The Port The Senior Tawny served also to celebrate the chef, his team and the wonderful meal we had at Konstantin Filippou.
From Vienna we went to Budapest and with us, also a Port White 10 years, which would serve, in a bit provoking touch, to show our amazing White Port right next to the Tokaj wines.
Niepoort 10 years White at Tanti’s table (*Michelin)
We took this wine to Tanti (see), the most recent starred restaurant in Budapest, a unique Port as a gift to the young chef Oliver Heiszler and his team.
After some nice days and fantastic wines, around three of the most beautiful Central European cities, we went to Madrid, more precisely to El Club Allard (see), the restaurant with two Michelin stars, where María Marte creates a fusion between her Dominican roots and the Spanish haute cuisine.
Niepoort Redoma 2014 in Madrid at El Club Allard (**Michelin)
The Redoma Reserva Branco 2014 is a wine I can’t get tired of, fresh, mineral, with an addictive acidity and a perfect structure to accompany the elegant dishes of María Marte.
“Ocean Rice” harmonized with the Redoma Reserva 2014
It was an amazing experience, traveling with the wines that make us happy at home and see the way the same are felt and appreciated by others, as well as the way the harmonize with other cuisines, which was, as expected, a great experience, and very reavealing of the quality of national wines, in this case, particularly, of Niepoort.
Now we just have to wait for the next travels and think of a wine to accompany us!
