Niepoort Charme

Introduction

Charme is all about elegance and balance, achieved by taking special attention to the smallest details during the entire wine-making process. Made in traditional stone lagares with 100% grape stems, Charme’s elegance is achieved using grapes from very old vineyards in Vale de Mendiz, on the banks of the Pinhão river.

Vinification

The 2022 vintage was the driest year of the 21st century, with a harvest that began earlier than ever before! In the past few years, we have witnessed an increase in unpredictable weather, with more frequent extreme phenomena, such as the heat waves and heavy rains that characterised the year 2022 in the Douro. Since we farm our vineyards in a natural way at Niepoort, this climatic variability has a great impact on the final profile of our wines, which means that the 2022 vintage is one to remember. A few small batches of wines were made for the Charme in the early stages of the harvest, using 100% whole bunches foot-trodden in traditional stone lagares. After a short maceration period, the alcoholic and malolactic fermentations finished in French oak barrels, where the wine was aged for 15 months, prior to bottling.

Tasting Notes

With its pale garnet hue, this wine’s appearance is probably best compared to a Pinot Noir from the Burgundy region. After the outstanding 2021 vintage, 2022 was a difficult year for this style of wine due to its intensity, so this wine owes its success to early harvesting. The nose reveals the complexity of the grape varieties and the old vines making up this blend. First, floral notes appear, followed by aromas of graphite on a base of cherries and rhubarb. The oak is very discreet and balanced out by hints of aromatic herbs which lend the wine complexity and sophistication. The palate offers elegance, precision and structure. A long and lingering finish is accompanied by excellent acidity, promising great ageing potential.