Niepoort Batuta

My first encounter with the 2022 Batuta was in the context of a vertical tasting of all vintages produced since 1999, all except 2002 and 2006. The previous year, the 2021, is a hard act to follow, as it is clearly the finest vintage to date (seen in the complete context). But the 2022 kept the poise and balance and comes through as terribly balanced, elegant and fresh, a triumph over the adverse, extremely hot and dry, natural conditions of the year. It's from all north-facing vineyards, and the dates of the harvest have been fine-tuned; some very long macerations of some lots (up to six months!) have added finesse to the tannins. I tasted it again a few months later with the full portfolio of Douro wines, and the herbal side seemed more obvious. It has a contained 12.5% alcohol and is perfumed and floral, complex, spicy and herbal, with some earthy/mineral notes and refined and elegant tannins. There's balance, freshness and elegance here. They managed to produce 13,000 bottles. There was a big change in 2018, when they started using two vineyards that they ferment with a very long maceration. This should age nicely in bottle.