Niepoort ‘Batuta’ Tinta Amarela Blend 2010

The 2010 Batuta is sourced mostly from North facing old vineyards (Quinta do Carril, 70 years), although some old vines (100 years) from Niepoort’s Napoles are also included. It was aged in 228-liter French oak for 22 months, only 30% new. Principal grapes of the old vines blend (as emphasized by the winery) include Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Amarela and Rufete. Niepoort sums up this elegant bottling well by saying “Batuta is a wine of extremes, having more of everything, is at the same time, the one with a more discrete behavior.” Quite so this year (and most), as the wine opens with subtlety and elegance, seeming rather mute. It is somewhat tinged by oak early in its life. That will be easily absorbed. It takes some air and patience to see what this sometimes too subtle wine has, but there is good structure underneath (and a little tannic pop that emerges with air) that should allow the wine to develop well and have the time to acquire some complexity, which is often its best feature. It has a very Burgundian feel, with a silky, graceful mid-palate. There is nothing obvious about this bottling in any year. This year, certainly, it is a Batuta that is perhaps subtle to a fault, but it will be a perfect food wine and when you are drinking it you will suddenly realize how much you like it. Just don’t expect “obvious.” I think this will separate from things like Vertente and Bioma in time, but for bargain hunters looking to economize – the lower level wines are very nice this year. Drink now-2023.