Lagar de Baixo Baga 2018, Niepoort, Bairrada

Violet glints peek out from its overall lively and bright appearance. The nose reveals aromas of red fruit such as cherries and red berries which are complemented by floral notes and spicy hints from the barrel ageing. On the palate, an elegant structure, good concentration and freshness culminate in a long and persistent finish.

Founded in 1842, the small Port house of Niepoort is now run by 5th generation Dirk Niepoort. It’s 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, artisanal 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.

“2019 was a year with some rainfall and an intensely cold March, which resulted in slow growth.
However, thanks to a warm spring, the grapes matured quickly, leading to an earlier harvest.
Picking began with the white grape varieties on 26 August and ended with the reds on 26 September. It was a good year, with wellbalanced acidities. Although alcohol levels were higher than the previous year, we were able to maintain the freshness and elegance that
characterise the wines of the Quinta de Baixo. The wine was fermented in stainless steel tanks for 4 weeks before completing its fermentation process in large, used 2500L vats. In these
same vats, the wine went through malolactic fermentation and a maturation period of 22 months before it was bottled unfiltered. “