Nearly choking on its youthful mass of fruit, alcohol and tannin, this manages to sort them all out as it extends from its tough center to a generous length. Hard edges of tannin grip the succulent fruit, unleashing the power of the wine even as the gloss of the surfaxe makes a convincing case that it's just sweet and approachable.
Dirk Niepoort and winemaker Jorge Borges blend this vintage from the fruit they grow at Quinta do Napoles in the Todo Valley with mixed, old vine plantings from other vineyards in the Cima Corgo. It may seem amiable enough but it doesn't stop giving with power and length that suggest decades of development ahead. Dirk Niepoort noted that the perfect conditions of the vintage allowed them to use more Tinta Amarela in the blend than usual (normally a difficult grape to ripen); low-yielding. Thik skinned
Tinta Roriz and
Touriga Francesa also play important rolkes in the blend.
Martine's Wines, Novato
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