Vertente 150cl (4x150cl)

Learn More About This Wine

“Vertente” means “aspect” or “hillside” and this wine represents an overview of the Douro Valley: it is made up of a little bit of all the Douro terroirs that Niepoort cultivates. The majority of the grapes originate from old vineyards aged between 30 and 60 years, with a traditional blend of several grape varieties. 

Vertente is a wine of incredible elegance and complexity which masterfully combines the fruitiness and concentration of Douro wines with the freshness typical of Niepoort’s wine making philosophy. 

The 2020 growing year was very heterogeneous. A rainy winter was followed by a moderate spring, providing favourable conditions for the vines’ growth. On the other hand, the month of June was relatively cool and slowed down the growth cycle. July brought very high temperatures (the hottest since 1931), with three heat waves which reduced the yields somewhat. Harvesting began in the first weeks of August in the hottest areas and concluded in the higher-lying slopes at the end of September. After a meticulous bunch selection in the vineyards, the grapes were sorted a second time in the cellar. The Vertente 2020 was fermented in conical stainless steel tanks before being left to mature for 22 months in french oak barrels. 

The wine’s colour is radiant and of medium concentration. On the nose, aromas of fruits of the forest such as blackberry and blackcurrant merge with hints of graphite, spices and balsamic notes. Structured and elegant, the finish is long, with persistent flavours.