The 2022 vintage in the Douro was one of the warmest and driest in recent memory. Low winter rainfall, a hot summer, and reduced yields created concentrated fruit, yet high-altitude vineyards and old vines preserved the freshness essential for white wines. For Niepoort, whose Redoma Branco is sourced from ancient, north-facing vineyards on mica-schist soils, 2022 offered the chance to produce a white wine of great intensity, notable mineral drive, and surprising tension despite the warm season.
The Niepoort Redoma Branco 2022 opens with a distinctive, refined bouquet. Aromas of citrus peel, green plum, and white peach mingle with notes of fennel, crushed herbs, and almond blossom. Underneath the fruit lies a pronounced mineral core, showing wet stone, slate, and a touch of smoky reduction that is characteristic of the cuvée’s terroir.
On the palate, the wine is vibrant, textured, and wonderfully precise. A lively spine of acidity carries flavors of grapefruit, lemon zest, and orchard fruit, while the old-vine complexity brings layers of dried herbs, subtle salinity, and savory depth. The structure is firm and linear, balanced by a gentle creaminess that emerges mid-palate. As the wine unfolds, nuances of green almond, chamomile, and flinty minerality come forward, building toward a long and elegantly focused finish.
This is an outstanding Redoma Branco, showing remarkable clarity and poise in a warm vintage. It beautifully captures the character of the Douro’s high-altitude old vines. The 2022 will age gracefully for eight to twelve years, developing richer textures and more honeyed, nutty complexity while retaining its mineral core.
