NIEPOORT - Docil Loureiro - Vinho Verde 2024
Docil Loureiro 2024 from Niepoort embodies the crystalline freshness and aromatic lightness that define the signature of great Vinho Verde wines, with the added minimalist elegance characteristic of Dirk Niepoort. The very pale, almost translucent color signals a tense, lively, and delicately scented wine. The nose opens with aromas of fresh lemon, lime zest, green apple, and crisp pear, complemented by floral notes of hawthorn and orange blossom. A sensation of wet stone and sea breeze immediately highlights its saline character. On the palate, the attack is sharp, clear, supported by a cutting but perfectly integrated acidity. The slight natural effervescence, typical of the region, brings dynamism and irresistible drinkability. The finish, long and thirst-quenching, extends the citrus and minerality with great brightness.
Upon aeration, Docil Loureiro 2024 gains aromatic breadth without ever losing its finesse. Nuances of white peach, lemon basil, and kumquat appear, enhancing its aromatic expression while maintaining great purity. The deliberately gentle vinification in stainless steel tanks aims to preserve the tension and precision of the Loureiro grape variety. The biodynamic work and Niepoort's low-intervention approach are felt in the clarity of the profile: nothing superfluous, just the essence of fruit and freshness. The texture remains slender, smooth, always guided by vibrant acidity. The whole composes a white wine of great stylistic coherence, modern in its purity, sincere in its expression, and endowed with a joyful personality that recalls the DNA of Vinho Verde in its most refined version.
At the table, Docil Loureiro 2024 shines through its versatility and liveliness. It will ideally accompany seafood, oysters, citrus ceviche, grilled fish, or fresh salads. Its lemony character and lightness make it a perfect partner for light Asian cuisine, tempuras, sashimis, or vegetable dishes such as tabbouleh, zucchini carpaccio, or fresh herb cheese. Served well chilled, around 8 to 10 °C, it reveals all its brilliance and drinkability. It is a wine of immediate pleasure, designed for warm days, but whose precision and finesse also allow it to be appreciated in attentive tasting. An authorial Vinho Verde, vibrant, delicate, and perfectly executed.
Grape variety: Loureiro