2017 Niepoort Douro Tinto Charme

A medium-bodied, elegant Douro red wine with pronounced raspberry and baking spice notes, reminiscent of red Burgundy, perfect for slow enjoyment and pairing with roast duck.

Producer

Niepoort

Region

Douro Region

Country

Portugal

Varietal

Touriga Nacional / Touriga Franca

Varietal Composition

Field Blend

Specifications

2017

Vintage

2033

Drink By

ABV

Vinification

100% whole bunches are lightly crushed and then foot trodden in granite lagares, then aged for 15 months in French oak

Occasional wine note

We tasted over 80 Douro dry wines over the course of 2 weeks in Portugal, and this by far was the softest. It is not light, but a medium-bodied, elegant red wine that in many ways feels like a red Burgundy. The raspberry and baking spice are fairly pronounced here all the way through a long and luscious finish. This is an elegant wine to be enjoyed slowly. We had it with some roast duck and the pairing was absolutely amazing.

What experts say about this wine

100

Wine Spectator

A suave red, with refined tannins and a profile exhibiting raspberry and currant notes mixed with rose petal, sandalwood and mineral flavors. Vivid acidity binds everything together, with wild herb, tea and smoke notes echoing on the long finish. Tinta Roriz and Touriga Franca. Drink now through 2029.

100

Wine Advocate

The 2017 Charme is a field blend, heavy on Tinta Roriz and Touriga Franca (especially Tinta Roriz), aged for 15 months in used French barriques. It comes in at 13.5% alcohol. This, unlike most of the upper-level reds here, was in bottle when seen (and for about four months after that). More nuanced than the Batuta, and probably a little deeper, this is equally fresh, with a slight meaty aftertaste. There's not a lot of stuffing, but there never is in this wine (typically meant to have a Burgundian style). This is a fine Charme, though. It is structured, refined and bright, with lifted fruit and a long finish. It should age beautifully. This has never been my favorite bottling in Niepoort's stable, but it looks like one of my favorite Charmes ever, a worthy companion to the 2015.

pairing recommendation