Niepoort - Douro Batuta 2008

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the wine:

The 2008 Batuta is a classic Douro blend made from old vines, aged for 21 months in French oak barrels. Most of the grapes for Batuta come from the north-facing vineyards of Quinta do Carril, as well as from very old vines (over 100 years old) near Quinta de Napoles. Let’s just say that at first glance, this is never the most showy wine. It often has a Burgundian mid-palate and leans toward finesse and complexity. This style generally pairs well with robust vintages, taming them perfectly. For this vintage, it seems to work very well. In any case, don’t taste it right after opening. Let it breathe for a few hours. It’s easy to drink but persistent, with the finish becoming more interesting over time, and you realize there’s much more to it than just the initial attack on the palate. It’s a wine that charms you. The 2008 vintage is a true expression of its year, very lively, very crisp, with a succulent, juicy finish. There is a burst of intensity on the finish, and the wine develops beautifully. It is not as accessible and easy-drinking as the 2007, but it improves with aeration. Perhaps we are wrong, but it is unlikely that anyone will be disappointed by the 2008. At the start of the tasting, we preferred the 2008 Redoma. But three hours later, the Batuta was on the same level, if not more interesting—simply charming, sensually enveloping the palate in perfect balance.

Wine Spectator

Wine Enthusiast

About the wine:

Full-bodied and firmly tannic, this is an impressive wine, bursting with black fruit and very firm. Aromas of prunes, blackberry juice, and herbs combine to create a powerful, concentrated wine with superb balance. Definitely one to lay down.

Jancis Robinson

James Suckling