Niepoort Dão Rotulo Branco 2020

Niepoort Dao Rotulo Branco is a white blend from DOC Dao made by the Niepoort family, the Douro house founded in 1842 that has extended its work to other Portuguese regions. It brings together Encruzado, one of Portugal's finest white grapes, with Bical, Rabo de Ovelha and Cercial. Dao is a mountain region sheltered by surrounding sierras, planted mainly on granite soils at altitude, and this combination of cool nights, elevation and free-draining granite gives its whites their tension, freshness and mineral drive. The wine is made with the family's mix of traditional Portuguese technique and modern care, with the emphasis on preserving the fruit and acidity of the high vineyards. This is a 2020 with a little bottle age, which adds a touch of complexity to the fresh core. The colour is pale straw yellow. The nose is fresh and precise, with green apple, white peach and lemon over mountain herbs and white flowers. The palate is dry and linear at 12.5 percent alcohol, the fruit driven by crisp acidity and a granite-derived mineral finish. Serve at 10 to 12 degrees.