Niepoort Charme 2019

A suave red, with refined tannins and a profile exhibiting raspberry and currant notes mixed with rose petal, sandalwood and mineral flavors. Vivid acidity binds everything together, with wild herb, tea and smoke notes echoing on the long finish. Tinta Roriz and Touriga Franca. Drink now through 2029.

The 2017 Charme is a field blend, heavy on Tinta Roriz and Touriga Franca (especially Tinta Roriz), aged for 15 months in used French barriques. It comes in at 13.5% alcohol. This, unlike most of the upper-level reds here, was in bottle when seen (and for about four months after that). More nuanced than the Batuta, and probably a little deeper, this is equally fresh, with a slight meaty aftertaste. There's not a lot of stuffing, but there never is in this wine (typically meant to have a Burgundian style). This is a fine Charme, though. It is structured, refined and bright, with lifted fruit and a long finish. It should age beautifully. This has never been my favorite bottling in Niepoort's stable, but it looks like one of my favorite Charmes ever, a worthy companion to the 2015.