Niepoort Tawny Dee

Niepoort Tawny Dee is an entry tawny from the Douro house Niepoort, founded in 1842 and run today by the fifth generation. It is blended from Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Amarela, Sousão and other traditional varieties grown on the steep schist terraces of the Douro valley. The hot, dry climate drives the grapes to full ripeness and high sugar, and fermentation is fortified with grape spirit to around 19.5 percent, leaving the wine sweet. A tawny gains its character from time in wood: ageing in seasoned 550-litre port-aging pipas exposes the wine to slow oxidation, which softens tannin, shifts the colour towards amber and builds the nutty, dried-fruit notes typical of the style. The wine is tawny in colour, with delicate aromas of nuts and dried fruit. The palate is balanced and fruity, with a luscious texture that carries red berry and dried apricot into a long, spirited finish. Serve lightly chilled at 12 to 14 degrees in a small glass.