Niepoort White

Niepoort White is a white Port from Niepoort, the Douro house founded in 1842. It is a blend of indigenous white varieties, Códega, Rabigato, Viosinho, Arinto and Gouveio, grown on the schist soils of the Douro valley. The region's hot, dry summers ripen the grapes to high sugar, and the must is fortified with grape spirit to around 19.5 percent, leaving the wine with a measure of residual sweetness. The white Port style is built in cask: this one spends 36 months in French oak, where slow oxidative ageing turns the colour golden with brown tints and develops nutty, dried-fruit character alongside the wine's fresh fruit. The result is golden in the glass, with a nose of nuts and delicate ripe fruit. The palate carries a medium sweetness that sits in balance with the alcohol, with almond, honey, dried apricot and a touch of orange peel through the finish. Serve chilled at 8 to 10 degrees, on its own as an aperitif or over ice with a slice of orange.