Niepoort Vertente Portuguese Red Blend – Premium Douro Valley Vintage

Vertente is an elegant Douro Valley red wine that masterfully blends the bold intensity of traditional Douro wines with Niepoort’s signature crisp freshness. Crafted from heritage vines aged over six decades along the Douro River’s eastern banks and select thirty-year-old Tedo River valley vines at Quinta de Nápoles estate, this 2014 vintage reflects meticulous craftsmanship despite reduced yields from its cooler growing season. Early September harvesting prioritized preserving natural acidity before rigorous two-stage selection ensured only premium grapes entered production.

Aged twenty months in French oak barrels during malolactic fermentation, Vertente delivers a striking medium-violet hue complemented by delicate aromas of dark fruit and mineral undertones intertwined with subtle smoky oak influences. On the palate, structured yet silky tannins meet refreshing acidity for a lingering finish that underscores its dedication to elegance over overt concentration—a hallmark of this exceptional vintage.

Perfectly balancing power and refinement, Vertente combines Tinta Roriz and Touriga Franca grapes from Portugal’s historic Douro Valley into an exquisite elixir ideal for pairing with rich dishes or savoring as a sophisticated after-dinner sipper. This limited-release wine embodies the region’s winemaking tradition while offering modern drinkers a refined alternative to heavier styles—a testament to its focus on finesse over intensity since its inception in 2013.