Niepoort Batuta 2017, Douro

Description

Niepoort Batuta 2017 is a red wine produced in the Douro by Niepoort Vinhos. The first vintage first released in 1999 with the intention producing an impressive yet elegant Douro wine. Batuta is a perfect blend: powerful, elegant, with a superb harmony and a great ageing potential.

Niepoort was founded as a Port House in 1842 and today is run by the 5th generation winemaker Dirk van der Niepoort. Whilst Niepoort is very well known for their superb Port wines, they are now considered to be one of the top Portuguese producers of table wines. Dirk really was at the forefront of the Portuguese wine revolution. He first started experimenting with wines in 1990 and released his first red table wine, Niepoort Redoma Tinto in 1991. Dirk continues to experiment and innovate and produces some fantastic Douro wines as well as from relatively newly acquired vineyards in Bairrada and Dao. All of the red wines, with the exception of the Niepoort Charme, are made at the futuristic winery at Quinta do Napole. Charme is made with the Ports at Vale de Mendiz.

The grapes for Niepoort Batuta 2017 predominantly come from two old vineyards. The first, Quinta do Carril, has vines over 70 year old with a north-facing aspect. The second vineyard consists of older vines (that are over 100 years old) planted at an altitude of 750 metres near the winery at Quinta de Nápoles. Both vineyards have schistous soils. Batuta undergoes a fairly delicate vinification with a longer maceration but with a little extraction to produce the elegance and freshness that the wine is renowned for. The grapes are harvested by hand and undergo selection in both the vineyard and the winery. Fermentation takes place in cone-shaped stainless steel vats and wooden barrels, with maceration for around 60 days. The wine is aged for 22 months in French oak barriques and undergoes malolactic fermentation. It is a blend of Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Rufete, Malvasia Preta and other Douro grape varieties. Around 12000 bottles produced.

Batuta, meaning the baton used by an orchestral conductor, proved to be the perfect name. Batuta demonstrates the most discrete behaviour, tannins are present but are fine and elegant, the aroma is very rich and intense but never exuberant. There is plenty of concentration from the old Douro vineyards but the wine remains fresh and elegant.

Suitable for vegetarians and vegans.