2015 Niepoort Quinta do Baixo Branco Vinha Velha

The 2015 Branco Vinhas Velhas is a 60/40 blend of Bical and Maria Gomes from very old vines (80+), aged for 20 months in used 1,000-liter fuders. It comes in at 11.5% alcohol and is very dry. Gorgeous and remarkably fresh, with tension and bursts of acidity lacing through the wine, this is also concentrated enough to handle the austerity. It lingers beautifully on the finish with a hint of lemon that is quickly pulled in. This puts it all together. I’m going to be a touch conservative now, but it may be entitled to an uptick. It gives every sign of being better five years from now when it pulls its parts together and calms down a bit.