Douro Tinto Charme

Niepoort

Douro Tinto Charme

Producer
Niepoort

Country
Portugal

Region
Douro

Sub-Region
Cima Corgo

Appellation
Douro DOC

Farming
Organic

Varietals
Tinta Roriz, Touriga Franca

Vineyards & Viticulture
Grapes come from very old vineyards in Vale de Mendiz, on the banks of the Pinhão River. Average vine age from 70 to in excess of 100 years.

Soils
Schist

Harvest & Vinification
Colheita Ports are Tawnies which come from a single vintage and are aged in old barrels for a minimum period of seven years prior to bottling. The grapes are manually harvested and received in 25-kilo holders at the Vale de Mendiz, then foot-trodden in round, temperature-controlled granite lagares for four hours everyday after harvest by 25-30 people. Fermentation takes place over 2-3 days with 100% stem inclusion. Wine is then fortified after 50% of fermentation is complete with high quality brandy spirit, then aged in in small, over 50 year-old oak casks (550 and 600 L) at Vila Nova de Gaia for seven years before bottling. Residual sugar is 99 g/L.