Niepoort Charme 2022

Vinification

The 2022 wine year was the driest of the 21st century! The 2022 harvest was the earliest ever! In recent years we have seen greater climate variability and a higher frequency of extreme phenomena, such as the heat waves and intense rainfall that characterised 2022 in the Douro. In the natural way we work at Niepoort, this climate variability has a big impact on the final profile of the wines, so this year was a year to remember. The whole bunches were lightly crushed in granite lagares where they were trodden underfoot. The most important part of this winemaking process is the period of pre-fermentation maceration and the start of alcoholic fermentation, where extraction is very short but intense. The fermentation of Charme is initially carried out in lagares and then the process is completed in barriques. It is aged in French oak barrels for 15 months.

Tasting notes

With its vivid garnet colour, the appearance of this wine is probably closer to a Pinot Noir from Burgundy. After the "heavyweight" 2021, 2022 is a difficult year for this style of wine, as it is a year of a lot of concentration, but the success of this wine is due to an early harvest. The nose reveals the complexity of the grape varieties and old vines that give rise to it. It starts off floral, followed by graphite nuances on a base of cherry and rhubarb. The wood is incredibly discreet and balanced by notes of aromatic herbs that make it complex and sophisticated. The palate is elegant, precise and structured. The finish is persistent and long, complemented by excellent acidity that promises a fantastic evolution in the bottle.

SUGGESTED FOLLOW-UP

Mushrooms and game dishes such as partridge or pheasant

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

Producer | Niepoort

Region | Douro

Type of Wine | Red

Soil Type | Shale

Grape varieties | Tinta Roriz, Touriga Franca and others

Strain age | 70 and over 100 years old

Density per HA | 6000

Vineyard Management | Double Guyot and Royat

Altitude (M) | 300-350

Vindíma period | September

Vindíma form | Manual

Malolactic | In barrels

Fermentation | In granite mills and barrels

Ageing | 15 months in French oak barrels

Bottled in | February 2024

Production | 14500 bottles

Allergens | Sulphites

Dry extract (g/dm³) | 23.50

PH | 3.57

Total Acidity (g/dm³) | 5.30

Volatile Acidity (g/dm³) | 0.60

Residual Sugar (g/dm³) | 1.00

Alcohol (%) | 13.1

SO₂ free filling (mg/dm³) | 19

Total SO₂ (mg/dm³) | 111

Bulk mass (g/cm³) | 0.9903

Vegan-friendly | Yes