Bastardo 2020, Niepoort
Region: Douro
Producer: Niepoort
Those familiar with the wonderful world of red Jura wines may have already welcomed a Bastardo in their glass (but under the French name Trousseau, known for fine red wines that stand out for their freshness rather than strength).With his penchant for light-footed, 'pinot'-like red wines, Dirk Niepoort finds an obliging accomplice in the Bastardo grape. Totally his thing, of course, this Bastardo, because it is a grape that naturally produces very elegant wines, and let that be Dirk's ultimate goal.
In the Douro, the Bastardo 'slipped in' at the time. It is often found in old plots with sometimes 20 to 30 grape varieties planted together, but it ripens much earlier than most other Douro grapes. And so earlier harvests usually just left the Bastardo hanging because it was overripe.
And yes, Dirk Niepoort also managed to find some vines in the Douro. From 2008, Niepoort opted to harvest the Bastardo separately in mid-August; quite a job since you have to pick them plant by plant.
That early harvest and the preservation of the stalks during fermentation lead to a deliciously elegant red wine that you would never place blind in the Douro.
| Volume | 75.0cl |
| Grape Variety | Bastardo (Trousseau) |
| Drinking window | 2024-2030 |
| Alc. | 13.0% |
| Vinificatie | In stainless steel tanks with preservation of the stems |
| Rijping | 14 months in french oak barrels |