Description
Niepoort are a family-owned producer that was established in 1842. Now on their fifth generation running the company, they have consistently pushed against the expectations of what can be achieved with both fortified and still wines in Portugal.
For many years they had an ambition of making a white wine with malolactic fermentation, so that the wine could have an extended ageing period, in both barrel and stainless steel. This is a challenge in the Douro, as the wine requires high acidity, difficult to achieve even from high-altitude vineyards in such a hot region. The fruit for the Coche comes 70 year old vineyards, located on the right bank of Douro river at 600m altitude.
Coche has a very intense and deep mineral side. With a nose of great complexity, luxurious and very elegant in the toasty notes. It has a citrus profile, with beautiful floral notes. On the palate it has firm acidity and a freshness, with very elegant fresh fruit notes and has a slightly salty profile. Very delicate, fine and persistent finish. A very serious white.
“The name makes no bones about the ambition, well realised. Very long, flinty, lemony, with lime zest, toast and pebbly mineral acidity.” Decanter Magazine July 2015