Niepoort (Vinhos) S.A.

Harvest Report 2008 by Dirk Niepoort, Luis Seabra and Nick Delaforce

Harvest 2008: Harvest in DOURO (by Regina Pessoa)

Its a frantic time of the year, but with the new winery everything is easier and more perfect.

With lots of grapes, rain, with many visitors, the harvest period is a time for little sleep and a lot of confusion, yet its always sad when it finishes.

The harvest is the high point of a years work..

In terms of grape varieties, Tinta Roriz with low yields exhibited a very consistent tannin structure, being one of the first to ripen, Tinta Amarela when planted in drier areas showed great freshness and elegance. Touriga Nacional with a more balanced and gradual maturation showed itself to be more balanced without its usually aromatic exuberance, which for us is positive. Touriga Franca, the most widely planted variety in all the Douro region always showed great elegance and freshness. The conditions at harvest time were optimum allowing a harvest to evolve from the lower more exposed south/west facing areas to the higher altitudes facing south/east. The white wines show great vivacity with very even fermentations highlighting the aromatic freshness of the year.

2008 is a special year ( as nearly all are). It could be said that it is a year that is the total opposite to a classic year in the Douro.Lets see:

It was a very humid year with a lot of rain throughout the year;
Rain during flowering which gave rise to some poor flowering/fruit set;
Many problems in general with mildew and especially with powdery mildew;
A Summer which during the harvest was very mild, lacking the characteristically intense heat of the Douro;
With very cool nights ( which retains the acidity in the wine);
The first rain in the beginning of September at the right time and rain in the second half of September which did not fall at the right time but stopping exactly at the moment when it could have caused a big disaster ( if it had rained for another two days it would have been a catastrophy )
And, finally a perfect year for the style of wine that Niepoort likes to make. As we made wines with very good concentration ( the fact that yields in general were very low, brings me to conclude that in the Douro there were losses of 30%), low alcohol and yet fantastic acidity.

As incredible as it may seem, it appears to us to be a great year for port.

Extraordinary colours,richly intense wines ( without being overripe), of a rare beauty and elegance and with firm and strong tannins. The harvest in Vale de Mendiz ran incredibly well. Also for Charme it appears to be a fantastic year. The whites are perfect with an exemplary balance.

*Nature delivered us of the best, now , it is in our hands not to spoil it*

Harvest 2008: Quinta de Napoles (Photo by Pedro Lobo)

Harvest 2008: 20/09 Dirk & Rolf Niepoort & Sr José and Zézé Nogueira

Harvest 2008: 20/09 Dirk & Rolf Niepoort & Sr José and Zézé Nogueira (Photo by Verena)

Harvest 2008: 20/09 Sr José Nogueira, Rolf and Dirk Niepoort (Photo by Verena)

Harvest 2008: 20/09 Sra Francelina; Sr José Nogueira, Rolf (Photo by Verena)

Harvest 2008: 20/09 Dirk and Rolf Niepoort (Photo by Verena )

Harvest 2008: 20/09 Rolf Niepoort & Sr Jose Nogueira (Photo by Verena )

Harvest 2008: 20/09 THE Salad (Photo by Verena )

Harvest 2008: 20/09 Lunch (Photo by Verena )

Harvest 2008: 20/09 THE Rice (Photo by Verena )

Harvest 2008: 20/09 Rolf Niepoort & Dirk Niepport & Sr Jose Nogueira (Photo by Verena )

Harvest 2008: Quinta de Nápoles (Photo by Fred Blais)

Harvest 2008: Quinta de Nápoles | Luís Seabra (Photo by Fred Blais)

Harvest 2008: Quinta de Nápoles | Craig (Photo by Fred Blais)

Harvest 2008: Quinta de Nápoles | Tessa (Photo by Fred Blais)

Harvest 2008: Quinta de Nápoles | Gabriela Santos (Photo by Fred Blais)

Harvest 2008: Quinta de Nápoles (Photo by Fred Blais)

Harvest 2008: Quinta de Nápoles | Mariana Seabra(Photo by Fred Blais)

Harvest 2008: Quinta de Nápoles | Dirk (Photo by Fred Blais)

Harvest 2008: Quinta de Nápoles | Tessa (Photo by Fred Blais)

Harvest 2008: Quinta de Nápoles | Nina (Photo by Fred Blais)

Harvest 2008: Quinta de Nápoles | Marta Verena & Tessa (Photo by Dirk)

Harvest 2008: Quinta de Nápoles (Photo by Fred Blais)

Harvest 2008: Quinta de Nápoles | Nick (Photo by Fred Blais)

Harvest 2008: Quinta de Nápoles | Harvest Team |(Photo by Dirk)

Harvest 2008: Quinta de Nápoles Photo by Fred Blais)

Harvest 2008: Quinta de Nápoles (Photo by Fred Blais)

Harvest 2008: Quinta de Nápoles | Inside the winery (Photo by Pedro Lobo)

Harvest 2008: Quinta de Nápoles (Photo by Pedro Lobo)

Harvest 2008: Quinta de Nápoles | Niepoort White Wines 2008 (Photo by Pedro Lobo)

Harvest 2008: Quinta de Nápoles | Niepoort Red Wines 2008 (Photo by Pedro Lobo)

Harvest 2008: Quinta de Nápoles | Niepoort Red Wines 2007 (Photo by Pedro Lobo)

Harvest 2008: Quinta de Nápoles (Photo by Fred Blais)