Niepoort Tiara Branco, Douro 2023

A simply stunning wine for the money from the Niepoort stable, who are doing such extraordinarily good things for the premium wine buisness in Portugal, we are excited to list this at Whitfield Wines.

This wine is made from a blend of old vines (all over 60 years old) grown at 600 metres, mainly Rabigato. In the cellar, there is spontaneous fermentation in large oak foudres that continues for a year before settling and bottling.

Some interesting tasting notes from Spring 2025 (Luis Gutierrez, Wine Advocate): 

'The only Douro white from granite soils, the 2023 Tiara is a blend of Rabigato (all whites have a lot of Rabigato, which provides very good acidity), Códega de Larinho, Donzelinho, Cercial and other varieties (perhaps some Alvarinho too) from very old vines at 600 meters in altitude. It fermented and aged in old, neutral oak foudres (1,300 to 2,500 liters) to give it a crystalline and pure character. It has austerity, contained ripeness and a balanced mouthfeel, with the granite granularity and a salty twist. It's surprisingly expressive for its young age, and it feels harmonious even after a very recent bottling. It feels like the 2023s are quite approachable. This is characterful, with a mixture of savory, floral and herbal notes, super tasty and pungent. It has terrific balance and is approachable but should also age.'