BATUTA

Batuta is a wine of extreme, from all the Niepoort wines, is the one that demonstrates the most discrete
behavior; the tannins are present but are fine and elegant, the aroma is very rich and intense but never
exuberant, has plenty of concentration from the old Douro vineyards but is fresh and elegant. North
facing very old vineyards from Quinta do Carril are the main source for Batuta, but the grapes also come
from older vines (about 100 years old) near Quinta de Nápoles.
Batuta results from a very delicate vinification, where the alcoholic maceration is led to the limit and
where all details are taken into account in order to obtain this very complex, fine and elegant wine.
Vinification
2008 was an excellent year for the Douro wine region. Rain, during spring and beginning of summer,
allowed the soil to maintain good water levels until harvest. On another hand, low yields, due mainly, to
rain during flowering season, were very important to obtain quality fruit with great acidity and balanced
sugar contents.
The harvest occurred in September. After rigorous selection, in the vineyards and the winery, the grapes
were fermented without stems. The natural fermentation occurred in stainless steel conic vats, and wood
fermentors, with total skin contact over 50 days. The wine passed directly into French oak barrels after
pressing, where malolactic fermentation occurred and where the wine spent 21 months ageing.
Tasting Notes
Intense and deep color. The aroma has great complexity, with an earthy mineral character, black fruit
aromas and spicy notes of black and green pepper. Very elegant, with mineral and cigar box aromas.
Tight and precise in the palate, subtle with intense fruit flavours and impressive freshness. Fine and
seductive tannic structure. Everything linked to a long lasting ending, with great persistent. To age
many years in the bottle.
Technical information
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Product . Niepoort Batuta 2008
Producer . Niepoort (Vinhos) S.A.
Region . Douro
Year . 2008
Soil Type . Schist
Vines . Quinta do Carril and other old
vineyards
Average Vine Age . 70 years and over
100 years
Cast Varieties . Tinta Roriz, Touriga
Franca, Touriga Nacional and others
Vines per Ha . 6000
Prunning System . Double Guyot and
Royat
Alt. from Sea Level . 350-750 m
Harvest Period . September
Way of Harvest . Hand picked
Malolactic . Casks
Fermentation . Stainless steel conic
vats and wood fermentors
Bottled . July 2010
Ageing . 21 months in French oak
barrels (228l)
Dry Extract . 27,1 g/dm3
Alcohol . 13,58% vol.
Total Acidity . 5,04 g/dm3 Tartaric Acid
Volatile acidity . 0,72 g/dm3
Acetic Acid
pH . 3.61
SO2 free wad . 17 mg/dm3