In the usual creative free spirit of Niepoort, in the past few years we decided to test vinifying some of our wines in clay amphorae. After several experiments, in 2018 we produced a wine which we liked very much indeed – the Voyeur!
After many months of ageing, we opened the various amphorae in the Quinta de Nápoles and created the ideal blend offering the right combination of freshness, good acidity and lightness.
- Vinification
The 2018 vintage was a cool year up until August, with the coolest July recorded in the 21st century. Compared to 2017, the maturation process showed a delay of 3 weeks. The first days of August brought a sudden increase in temperatures: 4 August was the hottest day of the 21st century to date, causing the ripening process to progress slowly during the month of September. Due to water stress, the vines gave us musts with low alcohols and good phenolic ripeness as well as sufficient complexity and minerality.
The Voyeur 2018 was fermented and macerated in six 1000L clay amphorae for approximately 8 months. Each amphorae contained a wine from a different site in the Douro Valley, all planted with old vines. In this wine, the individual grape varieties are not the most important factor, it is rather the complexity resulting from the blend of the varieties – including white ones – that takes centre stage. The vineyards range from 40 to 50 years of age and grow in high-lying areas which provide a very refreshing aromatic profile and enable the wines to age for 8 months without losing their character.
- Tasting Notes
The Voyeur offers a light-coloured core with violet and orange hints. On the nose, the fruit is quite pronounced, with light nuances of clay which however do not mask the wine’s bouquet.
Elegance and low alcohol characterise the palate, with well-integrated notes of amphorae which add to the wine’s lingering finish.
- Technical Information
-
Producer
- Niepoort (vinhos) S.A
Region
- Douro
Wine Color
- Red
Soil Type
- Schist
Vineyards
- High zones
Average Vine Age
- 40 to 50 years
Grape Varieties
- Field blend of Old Vines
Pruning Method
- Guyot and Royat
Harvest Period
- September
Harvest Method
- Hand picked
Malolactic
- In clay amphorae
Fermentation
- In clay amphorae
Bottled
- June 2019
Ageing
- 8 months in clay amphorae
Residual Sugar (g/dm3)
- 2.1
Alcohol (%)
- 12.6
pH
- 3.72
Total Acidity (g/dm3)
- 5.61
Volatile Acidity (g/dm3)
- 0.59
Free SO2 at Bottling (mg/dm3)
- 16
Total SO2 (mg/dm3)
- 36
Volumic Mass (g/cm3)
- 0.992
Production
- 5300 Bottles
Allergens
- Sulfite
Food Suggestions
- Light and simple dishes as well as comfort food.
Suitable for Vegans & Vegetarians
- yes
Bottle
Box
-
17.5
25
33.5
× 6
9700
cardboard
Palette
-
120
80
× 8 Rows
80 Boxes
The Voyeur was fermented and macerated in 1000L clay amphorae for several months. Each amphorae contained a wine from a different site in the Douro Valley, all planted with old vines. In this wine, the individual grape varieties are not the most important factor, it is rather the complexity resulting from the blend of the varieties – including white ones – that takes centre stage. The vineyards range from 40 to 50 years of age and grow in high-lying areas which provide a very refreshing aromatic profile and enable the wines to age for months without losing their character.
- Vinification
The 2019 viticultural year was marked by dry weather. Spring began with high temperatures, which subsequently dropped and remained low during the entire summer. Some rainfall occurred at just the right point of the vines’ growth phase, and flowering took place in excellent weather conditions, leading to medium to high yields with healthy berries. The mild days and cool nights of the month of August allowed the fruit to ripen slowly and harmoniously.
Harvesting began on 8 August.
The Voyeur 2019 is produced from 6 old vineyards with varying geographical exposures and altitudes, all situated in the Douro Valley. The grapes from each of these 6 sites were fermented and macerated in 1000L clay amphorae for approximately 6 months. The combination of grape varieties (including white varieties) in the vineyards is a deciding factor for the wine’s aromatic complexity and structure. After macerating in the amphorae, the different batches of wine were blended in stainless steel tanks and then aged again in amphorae for 2 - 3 months before bottling.
- Tasting Notes
The appearance of the Voyeur 2019 offers a light, vibrant ruby red with some orange and brick red tones. Its exuberant and floral bouquet combines aromas of red fruit such as redcurrant and raspberry with an earthiness typical for wines fermented and matured in clay. The palate is elegant, with vibrant and fine-grained tannins noticeable on the mid-palate, ensuring that the fresh fruit character persists deep into the light and moreish finish typical of a low-alcohol wine.
- Technical Information
-
Producer
- Niepoort (Vinhos) S.A
Region
- Douro
Wine Color
- Red
Soil Type
- Schist
Vineyards
- High Zones
Average Vine Age
- 40 to 50 years
Grape Varieties
- Field blend of Old Vines
Pruning Method
- Guyot and Royat
Harvest Period
- August
Harvest Method
- Hand picked
Malolactic
- In clay amphorae
Fermentation
- In clay amphorae
Bottled
- July 2020
Ageing
- 8 months in clay amphorae
Dry Extract (g/dm3)
- 22.2
Alcohol (%)
- 11.5
pH
- 3.38
Total Acidity (g/dm3)
- 5.8
Volatile Acidity (g/dm3)
- 0.6
Free SO2 at Bottling (mg/dm3)
- 16
Total SO2 (mg/dm3)
- 50
Volumic Mass (g/cm3)
- 0.991
Production
- 5200 Bottles (1l)
Allergens
- Sulfite
Food Suggestions
- Light and simple dishes as well as comfort food.
Suitable for Vegans & Vegetarians
- yes
Bottle
Box
-
30.2
17.7
26.7
× 6
8740
cardboard
Palette
-
80
120
× 4 Rows
76 Boxes
