Niepoort Batuta 2019 Portuguese Red Wine 70 cl 12.5%

"Batuta" is Portuguese for baton - the tool a conductor uses to make many voices play as one. The name suits a wine that brings together vines up to a hundred years old from Niepoort's vineyards into a single, coherent tone.

Expert's Description

Niepoort Batuta 2019 is a Portuguese red wine from the Douro Valley, bottled at 12.5%.

The grapes come from 70-100 year old vines on schist soils near Quinta de Nápoles, and form a field blend including Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Rufete and Malvazia Preta. After harvest, the wine is aged for 20 months in French barriques, giving it a finely integrated yet distinct oak structure.

Niepoort was founded in 1842 by the Dutch van der Niepoort family in Vila Nova de Gaia as a classic Port house. Under Dirk Niepoort, the house began seriously experimenting with still Douro table wines, and Batuta belongs among the more ambitious, terroir-driven cuvées in that range.

The style has often been compared to a fine Burgundy rather than a typical, powerful Douro red - a result of the old vines' low yields and a restrained, precise winemaking approach.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Perfumed and almost ethereal, with graphite, flowers and dark berries such as blackberry and blackcurrant, integrated with a hint of Asian spice and pencil shavings.

Palate

Medium-bodied and almost understated, with a fresh, pure line and a gentle build towards a long finish.

Finish

Elegant and persistent, with continuing dark berry fruit and a light mineral undercurrent.

Specifications

Name: Niepoort Batuta 2019
Winery: Niepoort
Region-Country: Douro, Portugal
Type: Portuguese Red Wine
Grape varieties: Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Rufete and Malvazia Preta (70-100 year old vines)
ABV: 12.5%
Size: 70 CL
Ageing: Oak (French barriques), 20 months
Vintage: 2019
EAN no.: 5603977004337
Serving suggestion: Serve at 16-18°C, with red meat, game or mature cheese

Flavour Profile

Elegant · Perfumed · Mineral · Old vines

Did You Know?

Several reviewers have tasted Batuta blind and believed they were drinking a fine red Burgundy - a surprising comparison for a wine made entirely from traditional Douro grapes, from vines that in some cases were planted before the Port house itself turned 100.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Niepoort Batuta 2019

What does the name "Batuta" mean?

Batuta is Portuguese for baton, the tool a conductor uses - a reference to how the wine brings together many old vines and grape varieties into one coherent whole.

What does Niepoort Batuta 2019 taste like?

It is perfumed and elegant, with graphite, flowers and dark berries, a medium-bodied, understated palate and a long, mineral finish.

At what temperature should it be served?

Best around 16-18°C, ideally in a large red wine glass that gives the perfumed aromas room to open.

What pairs well with Niepoort Batuta 2019?

Red meat, game and mature cheeses suit the wine's elegant yet structured style well.

Why is the alcohol level relatively low for a red wine?

The old, low-yielding vines and a restrained winemaking approach give an elegant, less alcohol-heavy style than many other powerful Douro reds.

How old are the vines behind Niepoort Batuta 2019?

The grapes come from vines between 70 and 100 years old, planted on schist soils near Quinta de Nápoles.

What defines Niepoort as a producer?

Niepoort is a family-owned house dating from 1842, originally a Port house, but which under Dirk Niepoort has built an ambitious range of terroir-driven Douro table wines, of which Batuta is among the most acclaimed.