Niepoort Douro Bastardo Red 2018

Bastardo is a variety that is easily found in the old vineyards of the Douro. Also known as Trousseau in the French region of Jura, it is a short-cycle variety, with premature ripening, normally used to increase the sugar content of musts, from grapes from cooler areas. The idea when producing this Bastard was to try to tame the rustic character of the variety and look for its more elegant and fresh side. The Bastardo vines are found scattered around the old vineyards of Quinta de Napoli, where all the viticulture is organic.

WINEMAKING
The year 2018 was a cool year until August, with the coolest July in the history of the sec. XXI. Vine maturation was delayed by about 3 weeks compared to 2017. In the first days of August there was a strong rise in temperature: August 4th was the hottest day of the 21st century (to date), having the maturation of the grapes proceeded slowly during the month of September. Due to the hydric stress imposed, the plants originated musts with low alcohol content and good phenolic maturation, with great complexity.

The bastard grapes come from two different locations, being harvested and fermented separately. The first was harvested on August 16th and the second on September 12th. Fermentations occurred spontaneously with 100% whole bunch in stainless steel, followed by a 16-month aging period in barrels where the malolactic fermentation was also carried out.

TEST RESULTS
A very bright and open red color, it shows a very fine and delicate aroma.

It is fresh, full of wild aromas and good vegetable notes, very typical of the variety, but also of fermentation with stems. In the mouth, despite being very marked by red fruit, it has a good balance, with very light and polished tannins, it becomes vibrant thanks to a well-marked acidity. Of low concentration, Bastardo 2017 is a very fresh wine, with a rustic profile, reminding old-fashioned wines. Very long and precise aftertaste. An extremely flexible wine for any type of dish. It is recommended to drink it cool (12/14ºC) and in a burgundy cup.