CHARME

Charme is a rare wine from the Douro, which goes against modern tendencies, its elegance and
complexity combined with the smooth tannins are unique in expressing old sheltered vineyards from
Vale Mendiz in the heart of the Douro area in the Pinhão valley. All the small details involving the
production of Charme turns the final result very difficult to achieve. In the end only the best barrels
are chosen to be bottled as Charme.
Vinification
2008 was an excellent year for the Douro wine region, rains occurred during spring and beginning of
summer, allowing soils to maintain good water levels until harvest. Low yields, due mainly to rain during
flowering season, were also very important to obtain quality fruit with great acidity and
balanced sugar contents.
Harvest occurred during September with very good weather conditions, bunches were selected both
in the vineyard and in the winery, fermentation was done in traditional stone lagares with foot trodden,
and all the stems. After a short maceration, alcoholic and malolactic fermentations were finished in
French oak barrels, where the wine was aged for 16 months. Bottling was done without any fining or
filtration.
Tasting Notes
A rich, fresh and elegant wine, light in colour, with fresh cherry and pine needle aromas, earthy notes
of mushrooms and truffles and elegant notes of tea leaves and pipe tobacco. The taste is fresh, long,
with very good structure, velvety tannins and great complexity of mineral notes along with fresh fruit
flavours, contributing with great tension for an intense, persistent and long lasting wine.
Technical Information
...
Product . Charme Tinto 2008
Producer . Niepoort (Vinhos) S.A.
Region. Douro
Year . 2008
Soil Type . Schist
Vineyards . Vale de Mendiz
Average Vine Age . 70 years and
more than 100 years
Grape Varieties . Tinta Roriz, Touriga
Franca and others
Vines per Ha . 6000-6500
Prunning System . Double Guyot and
Royat
Alt. from Sea Level . 300-350 m
Harvest Period . September 2008
Harvest Method . Hand picked
Malolactic . Casks
Fermentation . Granite lagars and
casks
Bottled . April 2010
Ageing . 16 month in french oak casks
Dry Extract . 22.5,g/dm3
Alcohol . 13,89% vol
Total Acidity . 4,47 g/dm3 Tartaric Acid
Volatile Acidity . 0,60 g/dm3 Ascetic
Acid
pH . 3.68
SO2 Free Wad . 20 mg/dm3