TN: 2006 Niepoort "Projectos" Pinot Noir, Vinho Regional Duriense

[zin1953]

Dirk Niepoort has been described as "The Randall Grahm of the Douro," and this might be one reason why. The Douro is, of course, best known for its hot climate and its production of Porto, but not all of the Douro is so hot. Indeed parts of it are quite cool, and this -- among other things -- prompted Dirk to plant Pinot Noir nine years ago. Since Pinot Noir is NOT an 'approved" cultivar, this cannot be called a Vinho Tinto Douro, but must carry the designation "Vinho Regional Duriense."

The wine is a pale cherry red in color, clean and bright; the bouquet leans more toward the "Burgundian model" than the typical "California model" (if that makes sense), but is something quite different indeed with rose petals, cherry blossoms, cherry fruit, a light spice, combined with slate and mineral accents; on the palate, the wine has a delicate, classic varietal entry, with pleasing fruit and spice, but from the mid-palate back has that same "iron fist" at its core of firm acidity, fine tannins, and that minerality that is so distinctively Douro; finely focused, the wine has a tight, dry finish.

I quite liked this wine, but it is decidedly different than any Pinot Noir I've ever had. Different, yet familiar at the same time. In an ideal world, this is the sort of wine that I wish I could have six bottles of. I would love to try one every 2-4 years, to watch/taste its evolution with bottle age, and learn from it. Unfortunately, only 36 bottles came into the US, according to Dirk, and I was lucky enough to have purchased two of them . . .

Cheers,
Jason

[rudiford]

I've bought 24 of them and drank/sold them. Now I've purchased another 24 bottles. I'm a firm believer in Dirk's products and can't wait to crack open another bottle of his Pinot.
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