2007 Tiara Branco

The 2007 TIARA is a blend of Codega, Rabigato, Donzelinho, Viosinho, and others from old vines. It is Niepoort’s stainless steel wine (although 10% was aged in wood, not always new oak), first produced in 2004, while the Redomas are more Burgundian in style and use more wood. It comes in at just 12.5% alcohol. It took me awhile to warm up to Tiara, but I am beginning to like its crisper, steelier style more and more. This version, though, while retaining good acidity, is rather forward and fruity, just clean and pure. It is quite delicious, with a mouth coating finish. It has come around rather quickly since I saw it at the winery a few months early. Refreshing and vibrant, it is drinking very well now and should be hard to resist in the Summer of 2009. There were 668 cases produced. Drink now-2013. One of the Douro’s icons, as well as top estates, Niepoort presents a wide range of wines, paying serious attention to whites as well as reds, and occasionally dabbling with international grapes like Riesling and Pinot Noir. His upper level wines like Batuta and Redoma Reserva Branco are among the Douro’s most sought after trophies in most vintages. His 2006 white vintage was quite good, exceeding expectations. The reds seemed to me to suffer a lot from vintage conditions, although certain decisions, like eliminating Batuta and using the juice for Redoma, often resulted in wines not too far off the 2005 red marks. Importer: Martine’s Wines, Inc., Novato, CA.; tel: (415) 883-0400; except in New York/New Jersey: Eric Solomon, Charlotte, NC; tel. (704) 358-1565