Single-Owner Private Collection of Fine Wines from South Africa, Bordeaux, Rhône Valley, Italy, Spain and more….
Timed Online Auction, 27 June - 15 July 2024
Italy, Spain, Portugal
ZAR 1 000
About this Item
The Niepoort family has been creating Port wines since 1842, and the house is considered of the best in the region. The house owns a number of qunitas, or vineyards, throughout the Douro Valley, and recently also the Dão and Bairrada regions. The well-traveled Dirk Niepoort joined the family business in 1987 and added still table wines to the large portfolio of Ports that the house produces. In fact, Dirk is a pioneer of table wines in Portugal and, as with all Dirk’s projects around the world, his focus is on traditionally made wines that offer elegance while showcasing terroir.
Dirk Niepoort's great passion for the Baga grape variety and the fantastic terroir of the Bairrada region led him to look for small parcels of Baga in very old vines, scattered throughout the Cantanhede region. These wines were light in colour and alcoholic content, elegant and fine, soon after bottling, but with a huge ageing potential. With the acquisition of the Quinta de Baixo in 2012, it became possible to recreate the Lagar de Baixo brand, moving towards a classically-styled wine which highlights the nobility of Baga grown in Bairrada.
The red Lagar de Baixo is the result of a combination of very old vines and younger vines: complex, serious, but with some youth and grip.
Provenance
Private Client
Critics Ratings
Niepoort Lagar be Baxio 2012
‘Baga, which doesn’t like new oak. Younger vines. Very direct and chalky. Lively, sinewy. Fermented in lagar and aged in old oak.’ – Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, 16/20 (Apr 2016)
Niepoort Poeirinho 2012
‘Pretty earthy nose – pretty 'natural'. Bitter plum fruit. Very Baga. But not too punishing. Lightweight yet fruity – a cross between wine and fruit juice. Bone-dry finish with light chalk texture on the end. Very clean and fresh. But challenging for those who have no knowledge of Baga.’ – Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, 16.5/20 (Mar 2019)
‘The 2012 Poeirinho Garrafeira is a Baga sourced from old vines and aged in large vats for 40 months. The winery "decided to put aside two vats and mature the wine for a longer period. The aim was to create a Bairrada 'Garrafeira,' a special reserve wine." This is potentially very special, but it is all about the potential at this point. On opening, the power, the acidity and the intensity pretty much overwhelmed everything. Its 2014 sibling actually seemed richer. That, of course, is just an illusion created by the relative youth there versus the intensity of this 2012 Garrafeira. This rustic wine came into more focus the next day. While the tannins and acidity never receded, it showed off more flavor, the fruit being slammed into the palate by the acidity. It's actually pretty delicious when you find the fruit. Its juicy, mouthwatering finish was very impressive while the texture was silky and sensual. The wine is never jammy or rich. If you like old-style Barolo, this is for you. If you're looking for sweet and sexy, look away and run fast. This will require some patience and a cellar for best results. It probably won't be really interesting until about 2022-2025, assuming everything works out. I think it will, but this is a relatively new brand. Let's see where we are in a few years, even if it seems to have blockbuster potential. Hopefully, it will prove that in time.’ – Mark Squires, Wine Advocate, 94+/100 (Apr 2017)
Niepoort Poeirinho 2014
‘All Baga, fermented in lager and aged in old oak. One of Dirk Niepoort's determinedly fresh light reds. Very slightly sweaty nose (perhaps it was served too warm?) but with masses of very pure fruit. Very fresh, lifted and accessible.’ – Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, 16/20 (Jan 2019)
‘The 2014 Poeirinho is a Baga aged for 20 months in a wooden vat. Listed at only 11% alcohol, this is from a rather awful vintage in the region. Some may not even produce top-level wines. I was surprised at how much I liked it. Granting that it is younger and fresher than its 2012 sibling this issue, it even seems a little richer on opening, thanks to its relative youth. It doesn't have the same focus and power, to be sure, but there is respectable concentration for the level and the year, it tastes great, if you like them on the earthier side, and it has real structure. The next day, it is juicy on the finish, plus appealingly complex. This is not the best in the brand from Niepoort, but it is an impressive achievement in a very tough year.’ – Mark Squires, Wine Advocate, 90/100 (Apr 2017)
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