Niepoort Ruby

Niepoort Ruby is the house ruby from Niepoort, the Douro Port shipper founded in 1842 and run today by the fifth generation. It is a blend of Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Amarela, Sousão and other traditional varieties grown on the steep schist soils of the Douro valley. The hot, dry climate carries the fruit to full ripeness and high sugar, and fermentation is fortified with grape spirit to around 19.5 percent, leaving residual sweetness. A ruby Port is aged for a short time in large old wood that minimises oxygen exposure, preserving its deep red colour and bright primary fruit rather than developing the tawny, nutty character of long oxidative ageing. The wine is dark red in the glass, with vibrant aromas of red and black fruit. The palate is youthful, with good extraction, a balanced structure and a marked mineral character that keeps it fresh and enjoyable on release. Serve lightly cool at 14 to 16 degrees in a small glass.