Projectos Bastardo Niepoort 2017

Projectos Bastardo Niepoort 2017, 100% Bastardo (Trousseau), old vines, organic, supremely interesting wine from one of the most characterful grapes. Bastardo is a grape variety which can be found in the old vineyards of the Douro Valley. Known as 'Trousseau' in the French Jura region, it is a variety which has a short growth cycle, ripens early, and is normally used for increasing sugar levels in the musts produced from grapes growing in colder areas. The idea behind this Bastardo was to try to tame the rustic character of the variety and to tease out its elegant and fresh side. The Bastardo vines are found scattered among the old vineyards (30 years and over 70 years) of the Quinta de Nápoles. The results are superb, a wine of style, freshness and character, pale colour and elegant aromas lead to fresh red fruits, tingling acidity an element of rusticity, the hallmark of the variety but with polished tannins and finesse in the glass. Can be drunk chilled when young but equally will age very well over the medium term.

Founded in 1842, the small Port house of Niepoort is now run by 5th generation brother and sister Dirk and Verena Niepoort. Its easy to forget that it was only a few years ago that Niepoort was only sought out by a small band of faithful followers, as stock of remarkable, artisan wines built up in the cramped old Niepoort lodge in Rua Serpa Pinto in Vila Nova de Gaia. These days, with a formidable international reputation which spans all styles from aged tawny to vintage, and all points in between, demand threatens to outstrip supply. Ports are all made at the old Museu de Lagares in Vale de Mendiz, which has the only circular granite Lagares in the Douro. Niepoort's mission has always been to be a "niche player", to produce distinctive Ports and Douro wines, combining centuries-old tradition with innovation. This continues today with new vineyard projects to produce dry, natural wines in the Douro - Bairrada - Dão triangle. The importance attached to understanding soils, climates and grape varieties has led the current head of the business Dirk Niepoort down the path of Biodynamics, a practise that respects the "moods" of Nature, to find a balance between biodiversity and minimum intervention, and the wines really speak for themselves. Many of their vineyards now have organic certification, which is very much against the grain in contemporary Port making. After 150 years of doing things just a little differently, Niepoort are now highly respected for their delicious Ports and an increasing array of natural table wines.