Niepoort Coche 2021
Niepoort Coche 2021 is a wine that tries to go further in expressing the vineyard, the site and the region from which it comes. In this wine, the mica schist soil contributes minerality and freshness.
Vinification:
After selecting the grapes in the vineyard, they were transported in 25kg boxes in a refrigerated lorry. A second sorting took place at the entrance to the winery. During the night, the grapes were gently pressed and the must decanted for around 48 hours. Alcoholic fermentation took place in 228 litre and 550 litre French oak barrels, 50% of which were new. During the 12 months in barrel, Coche partially underwent malolactic fermentation.
Producer's tasting notes:
On the nose, the wood ageing translates into notes of honey, dried fruit and brioche that are very well integrated with an aromatic base of apricot and citrus fruit and some aromatic herbs. On the palate it has the structure of a great Burgundy: elegant, with moderate alcohol and high aromatic complexity. The finish is persistent and long, complemented by excellent acidity that promises a fantastic evolution in the bottle.
Grape varieties: Rabigato, Códega do Larinho, Arinto.
Niepoort Coche 2021
This is a wine that tries to go further in expressing the vineyard, the site and the region it comes from. For several years we tried to make a white wine with malolactic acidity, where it could be aged longer, both in barrels and in stainless steel. But the Douro is a hot region, even in the highest areas, and most years it wasn't possible to have enough acidity to do this. In this wine, the mica schist soil contributes minerality and freshness. Prolonged ageing gives it stability and time in vats before bottling better integrates all the elements, making the wine more compact and lively.
Winemaking
The 2021 harvest began on August 11, with excellent indicators, musts with high acidity, low alcohol and very hard skins, resulting in very balanced wines, both white and red. In September, the unstable weather led to a peak in the number of grapes entering the winery and different maturities depending on the geographical location. After sorting the grapes in the vineyard, they were transported in 25 kg boxes in a refrigerated truck. A second sorting took place at the entrance to the winery. During the night, the grapes were gently pressed and the must decanted for around 48 hours. The alcoholic fermentation took place in 228L and 550L French oak barrels, 50% of which were new. During the 12 months in barrel, Coche partially underwent malolactic fermentation.
Tasting Notes:
Coche is Niepoort's most coveted white and has the profile closest to a great Burgundy. In defining its profile, we sought to complement the balance of fruit with the complexity of ageing in first-year, low-toast French oak from the François Frères cooperage. On the nose, the wood ageing translates into notes of honey, dried fruit and brioche that are very well integrated with an aromatic base of apricot and citrus fruit and some aromatic herbs. In the mouth, it has the structure of a great Burgundy: elegant, with moderate alcohol and high aromatic complexity. The finish is persistent and long, complemented by excellent acidity that promises a fantastic evolution in the bottle.
Suggested Pairing
Roast fish, white meat. Cream-based dishes. Gratin dishes. Risotto. Vegetarian suggestions: vegetable lasagna, Portobello mushrooms.
Technical Information
Producer | Niepoort
Region | Douro
Type of Wine | White
Soil Type | Mica schist
Grape varieties | Rabigato, Códega do Larinho, Arinto and others
Age of strains | Over 80 years old
Density per HA | 6500
Vineyard Management | Guyot
Altitude (M) | 600-750
Vindíma period | August
Vindíma Form | Manual
Malolactic | In barrel
Fermentation | In barrel
Ageing | 12 months in barrels
Bottled in | January 2023
Production | 9500 Bottles
Allergens | Sulfites
Dry extract (g/dm³) | 19.00
PH | 3.26
Total Acidity (g/dm³) | 5.80
Volatile Acidity (g/dm³) | 0.40
Residual Sugar (g/dm³) | 0.60
Alcohol (%) | 11.8
SO₂ free filling (mg/dm³) | 28
Total SO₂ (mg/dm³) | 120
Bulk mass (g/cm³) | 0.9910
Vegan-friendly | Yes
The 2021 Coche has to be one of the finest white wines from Portugal that I've tasted. It was produced with grapes grown at 600 meters in altitude, from very old vineyards with the right field blend with a majority of Rabigato but also other local varieties. It has a fine and elegant reductive character with flinty notes, hints of smoke and dry herbs. This is sharp and super tasty, with an almost salty twist in the finish. It fermented and matured in French oak barrels (mostly 228-liter ones) for one year. It's serious, nuanced, a little austere and vertical, with a dry finish, a chalky sensation and very good persistence. It has 11.8% alcohol, a pH of 3.26 and 5.8 grams of acidity. I've drunk all the vintages of Coche since the first year (2010), and this is the finest to date. Bravo. 9,500 bottles produced. It was bottled in January 2023.
Notes of glazed lemons, nougat, lemon curd and dried flowers. Hints of spicy herbs and zest. Medium- to full-bodied with vivid juiciness and tension in the middle. Bright fruit and chalky minerality. Spicy, too. Lengthy and textural. Drink or hold.
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