Description
Drink Me Douro White 2015
- What’s there in common between a bottle of red wine and an animated film? At first glance, apparently nothing. But if we have time to see instead of just looking, we begin to detect some coincidences: the design of the label… the shadows… the person who designed it… the name of the wine… the one who produced it… But the greatest evidence unfolds when we taste the wine, especially if the film in question is about a vampire called KALi. And then… a good bottle of wine can last for an eternity. Vampires too… the one in this film, in any case, lives forever.
The 2013 vintage boasts a delicate finesse and elegance. The aroma is decidedly mineral, with fresh fruit and spring flower notes. On the palate it is complex yet fresh, light yet concentrated, with a very balanced acidity. The long finish, marked by citrus notes, is both fresh and refreshing. Perfect for a wide range of occasions.
Food Suggestions
Grilled and baked fish, pasta with seafood, white meat.
Vinification
2012 was marked by a lack of rain in the Douro region. As a consequence, the growth cycle of the vines began, on average, 15 days later than in previous years. On the other hand, winter 2012 also had very low temperatures, allowing a suitable and balanced growth of the vegetation. The maturation period was cooler than usual, giving a good balance in the total acidity of the musts.
The grapes were harvested in early September. After a strict selection process on the sorting table, they were pressed slowly. The must was allowed to stand for 24 hours without skin maceration, and this was followed by a slow fermentation for 9 months, without batonnage.
Region:Douro
Soil Type:Mica Schist
Vineyards: Several
Average Vine Age: 20 to 50 years old
Grape Varieties: Rabigato, Códega do Larinho, Gouveio, Dona Branca, Viosinho, Bical and others
Vines Per Ha: 4000-6000
Pruning Method:Guyot and Royat
Alt. From Sea Level: 550-700
Harvest Period: August/September
Harvest Method:Hand picked
Malolactic:None
Fermentation: Stainless steel vats (75%) and French oak barrels (25%)
Bottled: May 2013
Dry Extract: 19
Alcohol (%) :13
Ph:3.38
Residual Sugar (G/Dm3): 3.1
Total Acidity (G/Dm3):4.7
Volatile Acidity (G/Dm3):0.5
Free So2 At Bottling (Mg/Dm3): 20
Total So2 (Mg/Dm3):65
Volumic Mass (G/Cm3):0.9882
About Dirk Niepoort
I regard him as one of the sharpest, most provocative and most thoughtful of all winemakers: always willing to experiment, and with a strong sense of direction that comes from being a student of the world’s great wines. Jamie Goode – http://www.wineanorak.com/dirk_van_der_niepoort.htm
“Dirk van der Niepoort is the New Douro: single-handedly he has cajoled, encouraged, persuaded and hauled the Douro into a D.O.C. age of enlightenment. Substituting his Dutch ancestor’s wooden clogs for fashionable plastic Crocs , with an enigmatic expression concealing dry humour, incisive vision and a passion for fine wine verging on the obsessive, he is the uncrowned king of the Cima Corgo. With irreconcilably curly hair and a complex character, this straight talking Beethoven of the bodega has created more stunning wines than might be thought possible in several oenological lifetimes. Beginning with the massively surly and delinquent Robustus in 1990, whose metamorphosis over more than ten years, from ugly duckling into graceful swan, stunned the wine world, not to mention his sceptical father Rolf. Paradoxically progressing to the refined muscularity of Batuta and Burgundian elegance of Charme, his winemaking virtuosity knows no frontiers and continues to push the boundaries of viticulture. Dirk’s skills are not simply confined to the adega, among his many talents are the respective abilities to combine quality with commercial success, develop stylish marketing and impeccable design, and above all, communicate in a direct and clear fashion.”
A good nose – The Douro boys
http://www.agoodnose.com
