The Poeirinho Garrafeira 2012 is no ordinary wine. It is the result of a deliberate, almost idiosyncratic decision: when Dirk Niepoort first released his Poeirinho in 2012, he set aside two barrels for extended aging. With only one goal in mind: to create a true Garrafeira, the most exclusive reserve wine from the Bairrada region. Only two barrels. A handful of bottles. And they are here now.
The grapes come from various plots with very old vines, some over a hundred years old, vines that have permeated the chalky soil for generations and have now poured all their wisdom into this glass. That unique subsoil is palpable in every sip: vibrant, pure aromas of red berries, tobacco leaf, vine, and a refreshing floral touch that enchant from the very first moment. On the palate, it unfolds with exceptional refinement: polished, velvety tannins, a sublime acid structure, and a precision that will move even the most demanding wine lover. Remarkably balanced for a wine that is still fully developing, the finish is fresh, long, and refined, and promises many more years of evolution.
This is your moment. Not tomorrow, not next year, because by then these bottles will have long since disappeared. The Poeirinho Garrafeira 2012 is rare, timeless, and unrepeatable. A wine you will not come across twice.
The Poeirinho Garrafeira 2012 is no ordinary wine. It is the result of a deliberate, almost idiosyncratic decision: when Dirk Niepoort first released his Poeirinho in 2012, he set aside two barrels for extended aging. With only one goal in mind: to create a true Garrafeira, the most exclusive reserve wine from the Bairrada region. Only two barrels. A handful of bottles. And they are here now.
The grapes come from various plots with very old vines, some over a hundred years old, vines that have permeated the chalky soil for generations and have now poured all their wisdom into this glass. That unique subsoil is palpable in every sip: vibrant, pure aromas of red berries, tobacco leaf, vine, and a refreshing floral touch that enchant from the very first moment. On the palate, it unfolds with exceptional refinement: polished, velvety tannins, a sublime acid structure, and a precision that will move even the most demanding wine lover. Remarkably balanced for a wine that is still fully developing, the finish is fresh, long, and refined, and promises many more years of evolution.
This is your moment. Not tomorrow, not next year, because by then these bottles will have long since disappeared. The Poeirinho Garrafeira 2012 is rare, timeless, and unrepeatable. A wine you will not come across twice.
Food pairing
Delicious with roasted lamb, sausage dishes, fried cod, or vegetarian dishes with legumes.
Grapes: 100% Baga
2012 was a very dry vintage: there was hardly any rain during the winter and spring. As a result, the vines budded 15 days later than the previous year, and the entire growing season was delayed. The summer was not as warm as usual, and the nights during the last two weeks of August were quite cool. The yield was lower due to the drought and the low rainfall during flowering, and the grapes and berries were also approximately 20% to 30% smaller than the previous year.
The harvest began in late September. In vineyards with old vines, the ripening process was very balanced, with good sugar levels and a relatively high malic acid content. This resulted in a good pH value in the wine, despite the total acidity being lower than the previous year. Part of the wine was vinified in the lagar (traditional oak barrels) and another part in stainless steel tanks, where fermentation took place with the skins for four weeks. Malolactic fermentation took place in old 2,500-liter wooden barrels. The wine matured in this for three and a half years and was eventually bottled unfiltered.
Store & Serve
With its low alcohol content of 12%, this wine is best appreciated when served slightly chilled (15°C) and poured into Pinot Noir wine glasses such as our C&S Arom Up 43 cl wine glass.
Alcoholcontent
12 %vol
Critics & Awards
19/20 - Vinum Wine Magazine Tasted: Dec 2019 - When to drink: 2019 to 2042
Dirks erster Roter in Bairrada und gleich ein Volltreffer. Von Parzellen mit 80 bis 150 Jahre alten Reben, nur teilweise entrappt, zum Teil in Lagares vergoren. In der Nase dicht, jetzt etwas verschlossen, mit Noten von Bitterschokolade und Kräutern. Im Mund unglaubliche stimulierende Präsenz, sehr komplex, würzig, erdig, echte Lakritz, grossartige Tanninstruktur, enorme Länge.
