Fabelhaft RUBY Porto

Fabelhaft RUBY Porto is the red-fruit expression of Niepoort's Fabelhaft range, built from a classic Douro field blend of Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Cao, Tinta Francisca, Tinta Amarela, Sousao and Tinta Roriz. Fruit is drawn from low-yielding Old vineyards in the Cima Corgo, trodden in lagares and raised at the Niepoort lodges in Vila Nova de Gaia.

Ruby Port ages reductively in large wooden vats rather than small oxidative casks, which preserves deep colour and fresh, primary red and black fruit. The wine is bottled with an average age of around three years, and the Fabelhaft house style aims for Douro freshness and firm tannin rather than weight or heavy oak, so the fruit stays vivid.

Expect a deep ruby wine with blackberry, cherry and stewed plum, fine notes of dark chocolate and a light savoury, mineral edge, carried by silky tannins and a long fruity finish. Serve it at cool room temperature after dinner, with dark chocolate desserts, blue cheese or ripe berries.