Niepoort Charme 2022, Douro

Description

Niepoort Charme 2022 is all about elegance and balance and is the ultimate interpretation of Dirk Niepoort’s strong passion for the Burgundy region. It is produced in traditional stone lagares with 100% stems, Charme’s elegance is achieved by using grapes from very old vineyards in Vale de Mendiz, on the banks of the Pinhão River.

Niepoort Vinhos may be small, but it is a very well-regarded Portuguese wine producer with a rich history dating back to 1842. The company was founded by Franciscus Marius Niepoort from Holland and has been family-owned for generations, currently led by the visionary Dirk Niepoort, the fifth generation. Niepoort’s three children Daniel, Marco and Ana have all entered the family business. In particular, the eldest son, Daniel, has been involved in winemaking at the company since 2020.

Dirk Niepoort joined the family business in the late 1980s and brought a fresh perspective to the company. He recognized the potential of the Douro Valley to produce exceptional table wines, not just fortified wines. Dirk convinced his father to purchase Quinta de Nápoles and Quinta do Carril, plant 15 hectares of new vines, and preserve the 60-year-old vineyards. He first started experimenting with table wines in 1990 and released his first wine, Niepoort Redoma Tinto in 1991. Dirk’s innovative approach and passion for quality led to the development of a diverse range of still wines not just from the Douro, but also from estates and vineyards including Bairraida, Dao and Açores (Azores).

Niepoort Charme is the only table wine that is made at Niepoort’s Port Vale de Mendiz winery which is where Niepoort’s Ports are made. It is where their old, granite lagares are. All of the other still wines are made at Niepoort’s futuristic Quinta da Napoles winery.

The grapes for Niepoort Charme 2022 are sourced from very old vineyards (average age 70 years, some 100 years plus) in Vale de Mendiz, on the banks of the Pinhão River. The vineyards here are planted on schistous soils. Niepoort Charme is a blend of Tinta Roriz, Touriga Franca and other Douro grape varieties.

After a manual harvest, the grapes for Niepoort Charme 2020 were carefully sorted on sorting tables to ensure only optimum fruit was selected. The grapes were then lightly crushed with 100% stems into granite lagares where they were foot trodden. Charme initially undergoes fermentation in stone lagares. After a short maceration period, the wine is transferred to French oak barriques where the alcoholic and malolactic fermentations are completed. The wine is aged for 15 months, with minimal racking, before bottling.

Suitable for vegetarians and vegans.