Niepoort Vertente Tinto 2017

The 2017 Vertente is a field blend of grapes like Tinta Roriz and Touriga Franca aged for 20 months in 80% used French barriques. It comes in at 13% alcohol. This was set for bottling in about a week, but it was the final blend and out of cask. I hesitate to rate this too high, but if the Twisted red this issue seemed like the best Twisted, this might be the best Vertente. It is certainly on the shortlist. Elegant, refined, solid in the mid-palate and still filled with flavor, this is fresh and yet still very serious. It has fine structure and grip on the finish. This refined and impeccably balanced tinto is super and easily the best value point in the lineup. It can be drunk now, but it will be better this time next year, and it will hold gracefully for a reasonable time. Drink date: 2020-2033. Score – 92. (Mark Squires, robertparker.com, Aug. 30, 2019)