Niepoort Vertente 2022

Niepoort Vertente 2022 has been very well received by national and international critics. As a wine focused on freshness and elegance, its scores highlight its consistency:

The Wine Advocate
RP 91

Tasted by: Luis Gutiérrez

The 2022 Vertente has a slightly earthier profile, with darker notes of graphite and black fruit, a touch of liquorice and the warmth typical of the vintage. It shows a more Mediterranean style, with hints of aromatic herbs and slightly powdery tannins that bring out its more rustic side.

It fermented in stainless-steel vats with about 40% whole bunches and aged for around 22 months in well-used, neutral barrels — the estate renewed a significant share of its barrels in 2023. It's also a Douro blend from different parts of the valley. 80,000 bottles were produced.

I tasted mainly the 2023 whites and 2022 reds with the young team of Luis Pedro and Daniel Niepoort. For them, 2023 was a very good vintage, though not exceptional like 2021. It was a balanced year in the Douro, with good spring rains giving the vines good water reserves in the soil.

Summer was milder than in 2022 and the harvest was drawn out, with some heatwaves — during which the vines stopped their growing cycle twice — and some rain at the end, less favourable for Port. All the work was done calmly and gradually.

The resulting wines have moderate alcohol and good freshness, and are a little rounder and more approachable than the 2021s, with less tannic tension and more moderate acidity.

Published: 17 April 2025