Vintage Niepoort x Telmo Rodriguez OmLet 2010

Niepoort’s OmLet is produced in Douro in partnership with Spanish winemaker Telmo Rodriguez and and aims to convey a different expression of Douro terroirs. The idea was to let Telmo’s gentle vinification approach help shape the wine, and so grapes from two old vineyards planted at high altitude were a perfect subject. The wine was aged in small French oak barrels for 22 months and impart, classical oak influence to help the wine age gracefully and with complexity.

In the glass, it has a concentrated ruby colour and a nose of Maraschino cherry and wild fruits. The palate is full-bodied with black fruit dominating alongside  leather and spices with a defined mineral character underneath. Classic in style and highly complex, it is concentrated in the mouth with silky, delicate tannins. This wine is an elegant piece of work demonstrating the character and intensity of the old vines it hails from. Layered, rich, and very long finish. At 10 years old it is fantastic and can still age longer. But be warned: there are tiny amounts of this wine left. A rare beast!