NIEPOORT Charme - Vale de Mendiz, Douro Valley 2023 Bottle ORG (Tinta Roriz and Touriga Franca)

Description

Charme is a rare Douro wine. Its elegance and complexity, encompassing, soft and ripe tannins are a unique manner in which to express very old vines. Charme is the ultimate interpretation of Dirk Niepoort’s strong passion for the Burgundy region. A signature, unique wine.

With its pale garnet hue, this wine’s appearance is probably best compared to a Pinot Noir from the Burgundy region. The nose reveals the complexity of the grape varieties and the old vines making up this blend. First, floral notes appear, followed by aromas of graphite on a base of cherries and rhubarb. The oak is very discreet and balanced out by hints of aromatic herbs which lend the wine complexity and sophistication. The palate offers elegance, precision and structure. A long and lingering finish is accompanied by excellent acidity, promising great ageing potential.

JAMES SUCKLING 98 points/100
Intensely perfumed with wild berries and vivid floral tones. The medium-bodied palate is precise and energetic, extremely vibrant and discreetly fleshy, with a very fluid balance. A blend of tinta roriz, touriga franca and varieties from old vineyards in Vale de Mendiz. 100% whole-cluster fermentation. Aged for around 18 months in neutral French oak. Already open and seductive but will develop even more with time. Drink or hold.
Jacobo García Andrade, Senior Editor

THE WINE ADVOCATE 97 points/100
Reviewed by: Luis Gutiérrez
Drink Date: 2026 - 2036
The extremely young and elegant 2023 Charme is the most elegant red in their Douro profile. It's a groundbreaking wine produced in Vale Mendiz and Quinta de Napoles to increase the quantity (and quality) following the same logic—a short maceration of the full clusters in lagar, pressed to barrels where it finished fermenting and aged nine months. They use high-altitude vineyards with a mixture of grapes, including whites. It's floral and herbal, perfumed, elegant, fine-boned and balanced, with an elegant profile. It has terrific balance and should age gracefully. This follows the path of 2019 and 2021. 14,000 bottled produced.