VINTAGES ONLINE EXCLUSIVE Release : Niepoort Vinhos Vertente 2017
We're thrilled to launch the 2017 Niepoort Vertente in the LCBO's VINTAGES Online Exclusives, available for purchase now.
If one had to pick the winemaker who has had the greatest impact on not only Douro wines, but Portuguese wines in general, it would be Dirk Niepoort. Easily one of the world’s top winemakers, Dirk’s insight extends beyond soils, grapes and blends, and into humans, predicting and driving the wines that today’s wine lovers, of all ages and backgrounds, are interested in drinking.
While upholding his family’s history in Port wine, dating back to 1842, this fifth generation Niepoort has led the path for future generations to follow in both dry and Port wines. Independent, low-interventionist winemaking (biodynamic practices since 2012), earlier picking times, and clever marketing has created fresh wines both inside and outside of the bottle. There is little Dirk’s ceaseless mind hasn’t touched, including natural, sparkling, and highly experimental wine. The soft-spoken Dirk deftly combines tradition with innovation, equally using granite lagares and ancient autochthonous grapes alongside sharp social media, alliances with artists, and collaborations with other winemakers around the world (including our own Suertes del Marqués from Tenerife), through his Niepoort Projectos projects, and the natural, smashable, NAT’Cool! wines.
You can purchase this wine on the LCBO website here.
Niepoort Vinhos Vertente 2017
Vertente means aspect or hillside, well named for the vineyards of the Douro. 50 to 80 year old vines are sourced from all of the vineyards Dirk works with, with a traditional blend of several grape varieties based on Tinta Roriz, Touriga Franca, Rufete, and Tinta Amarela. After a native ferment in stainless, this was aged in French oak for 20ish months. Bright and alive with rockrose, fragrant plum, and thorny wild blackberry, this is gripped with those finely structural schistous tannins of the Douro, leading this long on the palate to a lightly peppery finish. In beautiful harmony now, and will be with time in your cellar.
"The 2017 Vertente is a field blend of grapes like Tinta Roriz and Touriga Franca aged for 20 months in 80% used French barriques. It comes in at 13% alcohol. This was set for bottling in about a week, but it was the final blend and out of cask. I hesitate to rate this too high, but if the Twisted red this issue seemed like the best Twisted, this might be the best Vertente. It is certainly on the shortlist. Elegant, refined, solid in the mid-palate and still filled with flavor, this is fresh and yet still very serious. It has fine structure and grip on the finish. This refined and impeccably balanced tinto is super and easily the best value point in the lineup. It can be drunk now, but it will be better this time next year, and it will hold gracefully for a reasonable time. Drink date: 2020-2033." 92 points, Mark Squires, robertparker.com, Aug. 30, 2019.
Read more about Niepoort Vinhos here.
Appellation : DOC Douro
Region: Douro Valley, Portugal
Grape(s) : Field blend
Price : $28.95 for 750mL
LCBO : 695023
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Cheers,
Le Sommelier
416.603.7026
bernard@lesommelier.com
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