When the Poeirinho 2012 was first released, Dirk Niepoort decided to put aside 2 vats and mature the wine for a longer period. The aim was to create a Bairrada “Garrafeira”, a special reserve wine. Throughout the maturation period, the wine retained an incredible freshness and gained structure and complexity. The Poeirinho Garrafeira 2012 comes from various very old vineyard parcels, of which some are more than a century old.
- Vinification
2012 was a very dry year – winter and spring brought hardly any rainfall. As a result, the vines budded 15 days later than in the previous year and their whole vegetative cycle was delayed. Summer was not as hot as usual and nights were relatively cool in the last two weeks of August. Yields were slightly lower due to the lack of rain and also because a few rain showers had occurred during the flowering stage. The grape bunches and berries were also about 20% to 30% smaller compared to the previous vintage.
Harvest began at the end of September. The sites with old vines showed very even ripening, with a good sugar content and relatively high malic acid levels, which ensured good pH levels in the wines despite the total acidity being lower than in the previous vintage. Part of the wine was vinified in lagares and another part in stainless steel tanks where it fermented on its skins for 4 weeks. Malolactic fermentation occurred in old 2500-litre wooden vats. The wine matured in these vats for 3½ years and was then bottled unfiltered.
- Tasting Notes
The Poeirinho Garrafeira 2012 displays violet hues. The nose is unbelievably complex and expressive, with notes of red berries, hints of spice, tobacco leaf and an underlying refreshing floral character. Right from the beginning, the wine impresses and delights with the incredible freshness and purity of its aromas. They reflect the calcareous terroir, which enlivens the aromas and emphasises the elegance of the Baga grape variety. On the palate, the wine shows a great amount of finesse, layers and great precision. Very smooth and with beautifully structured acidity, the wine offers exceptionally delicate tannins. Full of character, this “Garrafeira” is exceptionally well-balanced and, despite its relative youth, already a joy to drink. The finish is refreshing, lingering and of great finesse as it develops more and more. With its elegance and depth, this great wine will age gracefully in the bottle.
- Technical Information
-
Producer
- Quinta de Baixo (Vinhos) S.A.
Region
- Bairrada
Wine Color
- Red
Soil Type
- Calcareous clay
Average Vine Age
- 80 to 150 years
Grape Varieties
- Baga
Vines per HA
- 1500-2500
Pruning Method
- Guyot
Altitude (m)
- At Sea level
Harvest Period
- September
Harvest Method
- Hand picked
Malolactic
- in large wooden vats
Fermentation
- In lagares with 20% whole bunches and in stainless steel tanks with 15% whole bunches
Bottled
- June 2016
Ageing
- 40 months in large wooden vats
Residual Sugar (g/dm3)
- 1.6
Alcohol (%)
- 12
Total Acidity (g/dm3)
- 5.18
Volatile Acidity (g/dm3)
- 0.58
Total SO2 (mg/dm3)
- 46
Production
- 5646
Allergens
- Sulfite
Food Suggestions
- Roast kid goat, charcuterie platters, oven-baked cod or vegetarian dishes with pulses.
Last Updated
- 2023-05-05
Bottle
Box
-
10
27.5
35
× 3
4970
wood
Pallet
-
120
80
× 13 Rows
120 Boxes
The Poeirinho, whose name reflects the old term for the Baga grape variety, is a tribute to the great Bairrada wines of the past, and this Garrafeira is no exception. After the first bottling of the Poeirinho Garrafeira back in 2012, Dirk Niepoort decided to produce a new Poeirinho Garrafeira in 2015, using two old barrels in which the wine aged for an exceptionally long period of time in the Quinta de Baixo cellar.
This wine retained an unbelievable freshness while its long ageing period allowed it to gain more complexity, without compromising its outstanding vivacity.
- Vinification
The 2015 vintage saw a mild and relatively wet winter, with higher precipitation during the months of April and May, which called for more rigorous intervention in the vineyards.
The following months brought high temperatures, which allowed for even ripening. We began checking for ripeness at the beginning of August, and then took the decision to harvest earlier, on 25 August, as the grapes were found to be at an advanced stage of the ripening process.
The Poeirinho Garrafeira 2015 stems from various vineyards of old vines, of which some are more than a hundred years old. A portion of the wine was vinified in open lagares, and the other portion fermented in stainless steel tanks where it spent 4 weeks on the skins. Malolactic fermentation took place in used 2500L wooden vats, in which the wine also aged for 48 months before being bottled unfiltered.
- Tasting Notes
The Poeirinho Garrafeira 2015 displays violet hues. The nose is unbelievably complex and expressive, with notes of red berries, hints of spice and an underlying refreshing floral character. The wine impresses and delights with the incredible freshness and purity of its aromas which reflect the calcareous terroir, emphasising the elegance of the Baga grape variety. On the palate, the wine shows plenty of finesse, layers and great precision. Very smooth and with beautifully structured acidity, the wine offers exceptionally delicate tannins. Full of character, this “Garrafeira” is particularly well-balanced. A refreshing, lingering and deeply elegant finish unfurls more and more. With its elegance and depth, this great wine will age gracefully in the bottle.
- Technical Information
-
Producer
- Quinta de Baixo (Vinhos) S.A
Region
- Bairrada
Wine Color
- Red
Soil Type
- Calcareous clay
Average Vine Age
- 80 to 150 years
Grape Varieties
- Baga
Vines per HA
- 1500-2500
Pruning Method
- Guyot
Altitude (m)
- At sea level
Harvest Period
- August and September
Harvest Method
- Hand picked
Malolactic
- In large wooden vats
Fermentation
- In lagares with 15% whole bunches and in stainless steel tanks with 20% whole bunches
Bottled
- July 2019
Ageing
- 48 months in large wooden vats
Dry Extract (g/dm3)
- 21.9
Residual Sugar (g/dm3)
- 0.2
Alcohol (%)
- 11.5
pH
- 3.52
Total Acidity (g/dm3)
- 5.15
Volatile Acidity (g/dm3)
- 0.81
Total SO2 (mg/dm3)
- 82
Volumic Mass (g/cm3)
- 0.991
Production
- 5360 Bottles
Allergens
- Sulfite
Food Suggestions
- Roast kid goat, charcuterie platters, oven-baked cod or vegetarian dishes with pulses.
Suitable for Vegans & Vegetarians
- yes
Last Updated
- 2023-05-05
Bottle
Box
-
10
27.5
35
× 3
4970
wood
Pallet
-
120
80
× 13 Rows
120 Boxes
