{"title":"Rufete","description":"\u003cp\u003eDiscover wines made from Rufete at Vinogrande: a selection of producers and regions that shows the character of this grape.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"mob-lote-3-rose-2022","title":"MOB Lote 3 Rosé 2022","description":"This project was born from the wish of three winemakers, Jorge Moreira, Francisco Olazabal and Jorge Serôdio Borges, to make a wine together. The region chosen was the Dão, a region we share an admiration for, born from tasting older wines from the 1960s and 70s that surprise us with their elegance and freshness. The identity and complexity of these wines is truly remarkable and inspires us in creating our MOB wines, whether white or red. The vineyards, fifteen hectares in total, ten in Seia and five in Gouveia, made up of old vines, lie in one of the coolest spots in the region, at the foot of the Serra da Estrela; the combination of altitude, soils and the estate's grape varieties convinced us it was the right place to go ahead.","brand":"Moreira Olazabal \u0026 Borges","offers":[{"title":"2022","offer_id":47360487850321,"sku":"","price":11.45,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0550\/3218\/4972\/files\/mob-lote-3-rose-2022-6869975.webp?v=1761786905"},{"product_id":"ontem-tinto-2016-1","title":"Conceito Ontem Tinto 2016","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis wine comes from an old, forgotten non-demarcated area just south of the Douro boundary. Old vines (80-100 years), high altitude (700m), granite soils, a mix of white and red grapes, a beautiful east-facing exposure, and above all a group of people who care for the vines as their grandparents did. This small project aims to keep this place from disappearing, and its old vines from being replaced by more productive ones.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA red of striking identity, born of an old vineyard where Rufete, Jaen, Baga and many other native varieties live in harmony, in a limited production of just 3,000 bottles. It has a light, translucent, almost ethereal colour that anticipates its aromatic delicacy. On the nose it's precise and elegant, with notes of wild strawberries, lavender, humus and a touch of dried vegetation — all very subtle but deeply expressive.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn the palate it surprises with its lightness and purity: medium-bodied, with restrained, vibrant red fruit wrapped in invigorating freshness. Earthy notes and fine spice add layers of complexity. A wine of great character and singularity, a true “vin de soif” that charms with how easily it drinks, but also with what it reveals in every sip — an exercise in balancing rusticity and sophistication.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Conceito Vinhos","offers":[{"title":"2016","offer_id":47148124209489,"sku":"","price":26.9,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0550\/3218\/4972\/products\/conceito-ontem-tinto-2016-1534583.jpg?v=1761786643"},{"product_id":"invincible-n-2-tinto-2020","title":"Invincible Nº 2 Tinto 2021","description":"\u003cp\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eInvincible Nº 2 Tinto 2021\u003c\/strong\u003e is a young, fresh and distinctly food-friendly red from the emblematic Douro region. It comes from Companhia de Vinhos Invencível, a project of partnership and international friendship set up in 2020 by Portuguese winemaker Rita Marques and the renowned South African winemaker Marc Kent (of the acclaimed Boekenhoutskloof). The label nods to the Portuguese Discoveries, showing the mythical battle between the sailors and the monster Adamastor.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith an expressive nose, it shows a harmonious mix of fresh red and black fruit, with cherry and blueberry to the fore. The fruit is well integrated with delicate notes of sweet spice, toasty nuances and a subtle touch of chocolate from oak ageing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn the palate it's juicy, precise and enveloping, with good depth and a solid yet balanced structure. The tannins are fine and polished, while the acidity brings tension and freshness that keep the whole dynamic and elegant.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe finish is dry, persistent and very balanced, leaving a pleasant freshness and confirming its food-friendly character.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Companhia de Vinhos Invencível","offers":[{"title":"2021","offer_id":47891283149137,"sku":"","price":17.45,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0550\/3218\/4972\/files\/invincible-no-2-tinto-2021-9172740.png?v=1761785161"},{"product_id":"niepoort-vertente-2021","title":"Niepoort Vertente 2022","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mnmd-review__top\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mnmd-review__product media\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tasting-notes-text\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eNiepoort Vertente 2022\u003c\/strong\u003e has been very well received by national and international critics. As a wine focused on freshness and elegance, its scores highlight its consistency:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Wine Advocate\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRP 91\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTasted by: Luis Gutiérrez\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 2022 Vertente has a slightly earthier profile, with darker notes of graphite and black fruit, a touch of liquorice and the warmth typical of the vintage. It shows a more Mediterranean style, with hints of aromatic herbs and slightly powdery tannins that bring out its more rustic side.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt fermented in stainless-steel vats with about 40% whole bunches and aged for around 22 months in well-used, neutral barrels — the estate renewed a significant share of its barrels in 2023. It's also a Douro blend from different parts of the valley. 80,000 bottles were produced.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI tasted mainly the 2023 whites and 2022 reds with the young team of Luis Pedro and Daniel Niepoort. For them, 2023 was a very good vintage, though not exceptional like 2021. It was a balanced year in the Douro, with good spring rains giving the vines good water reserves in the soil.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSummer was milder than in 2022 and the harvest was drawn out, with some heatwaves — during which the vines stopped their growing cycle twice — and some rain at the end, less favourable for Port. All the work was done calmly and gradually.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe resulting wines have moderate alcohol and good freshness, and are a little rounder and more approachable than the 2021s, with less tannic tension and more moderate acidity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePublished: 17 April 2025\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mnmd-review__summary\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"row\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"col-12 col-sm-4\"\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdd\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/dd\u003e\n\u003cdd\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/dd\u003e\n\u003c\/dl\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Niepoort Vinhos","offers":[{"title":"2022","offer_id":48718271250769,"sku":"","price":15.45,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0550\/3218\/4972\/files\/niepoort-vertente-2021-3288755.png?v=1761785609"},{"product_id":"niepoort-batuta-2022","title":"Niepoort Batuta 2023 - Frescura, elegância e mineralidade em perfeita harmonia.","description":"\u003cp\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eNiepoort Batuta 2023\u003c\/strong\u003e is a top Douro red created by iconic producer Dirk Niepoort, renowned for its extreme elegance, freshness and minerality-focused profile.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Wine Advocate\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRP 96\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReviewed by: Luis Gutiérrez\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI'd already had the chance to taste a bottle or two of the 2023 Batuta before this tasting at Niepoort's cellars in Serpa Pinto, Vila Nova de Gaia, and the wine had already made a huge impression on me. It comes from the same two vineyards in Covas do Douro and had four months of maceration\/infusion on the skins — but without stems — in concrete vats, followed by 18 months in wood.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis may well be one of the best Batutas ever made (although the team thinks the 2024 could be even better, though I haven't tasted it). It's a deep, ripe, juicy wine, but without any over-ripeness or exuberance. It manages to be seductive and hedonistic at the same time, while keeping a serious, elegant bearing. It shows remarkable precision, supported by extremely fine, polished, elegant tannins.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt has 13.1% alcohol, a pH of 3.57 and 5.2 g\/L total acidity. 8,800 bottles were produced and it was bottled in July 2025.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI tasted these wines with Luis Pedro Silva, Niepoort's young winemaker in charge of the Douro wines. Most of the wines shown were from 2024, a less hot year, with lots of foliage and high yields. There was enough rain and the vines behaved as if they had been irrigated. However, the hot summer put them under stress because of the excess canopy and high yields, making it hard to ripen all the grapes and keep the leaves green.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe harvest was very rainy and stretched over a longer period, apparently with positive results: alcohol stayed moderate and the wines kept excellent freshness. At first these conditions favoured the Douro's still wines, though they were less suited to Port. However, the rain revived the vines, allowing the grapes destined for Port to ripen properly too.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 2024 still wines have low alcohol and seem to be gaining volume as they age. The reds show a very floral profile, perhaps less vibrant than the 2023s, while the whites are similar to the previous vintage, if slightly rounder. About half the reds tasted were from 2023, a cooler year than 2022 with characteristics close to 2021. Both 2023 and 2024 are very approachable, enjoyable vintages from a young age.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs for 2025, it was a year of heavy rain, making vineyard work particularly challenging. Yields were low, but the grapes showed great concentration. After the harvest the rain kept on — far more than would be desirable.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Ports were tasted with Nick Delaforce, the winemaker in charge of the Vale do Mendiz winery, where Niepoort makes its Ports. The house is releasing different vintages in several categories, but the highlight was the new 2024 Vintage. It's the first general declaration since 2022, as most producers didn't declare a Vintage in 2023.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNiepoort's portfolio differs from that of most major producers: around 60% is special categories and only 40% entry-level wines, when the norm in the sector is the exact opposite. The remaining 1976 Colheita was also bottled, described by Gutiérrez as a truly magical wine.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePublished: 16 April 2026.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Niepoort Vinhos","offers":[{"title":"2023","offer_id":50646498869585,"sku":null,"price":67.8,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0550\/3218\/4972\/files\/bot-niepoort-batuta-2023.png?v=1785347656"},{"product_id":"quinta-do-pessegueiro-rufete-2021","title":"Quinta do Pessegueiro Rufete 2021","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eQuinta do Pessegueiro was bought in the mid-1980s by Frenchman Roger Zannier.\u003cbr\u003eToday it relies on winemaker João Nicolau de Almeida, grandson of Fernando Nicolau de Almeida, creator of Barca Velha, to make its wines. West-facing, at altitudes between 197 and 355 metres, Quinta do Pessegueiro has 8.84 hectares of vines, most planted about 35 years ago, plus an old vineyard over 110 years old. For Roger Zannier, “the aim is to make one of the best wines in the Douro here\".\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt has a very pale colour, as is typical of the grape, showing absolute fidelity to the Rufete profile from the start. On the nose it's exemplarily varietal, with notes evoking damp earth, moss and mushrooms, wrapped in a discreet expression of fresh red berries.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn the palate it surprises with excellent presence and a remarkable acid structure that gives it tension, depth and huge personality. An absolute benchmark Rufete, full of brilliance, precision and finesse, showing rare elegance and distinctive character.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExtremely limited production of just 750 bottles — sadly too few for a wine of this stature.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!----\u003e","brand":"Quinta do Pessegueiro","offers":[{"title":"2021","offer_id":50614240641361,"sku":null,"price":44.9,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0550\/3218\/4972\/files\/quinta-do-pessegueiro-rufete-2021-2282177.jpg?v=1761784742"},{"product_id":"anselmo-mendes-douro-nao-convencional-2012","title":"Anselmo Mendes Douro Não Convencional 2012","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eDouro\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ered with less intense colour and more moderate alcohol than the region's traditional reds. With an \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eexcellent balance\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e between acidity, alcohol and tannin. A singular wine made from old vines, with around 20 native Portuguese varieties including \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAlvarelhão, Rufete, Tinta carvalha, Tinta da Barca, Tinta francisca, Alicante bouschet\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and others not identified. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"field field--name-field-visual field--type-string field--label-above\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"field field--name-field-mouth field--type-string-long field--label-above\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"field__item\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGrandes Escolhas:\u003c\/strong\u003e The name is fitting, as it truly departs from the Douro \"convention\", both in its grapes (Tinta Carvalha, Tinta da Barca, Rufete, Cornifesto, Tinta Francisca and many others) and in its style. Deep and complex on the nose, light and firm at the same time, with earthy notes and plenty of spice, an unusual freshness on the palate; vibrant, full of character and elegance.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Anselmo Mendes","offers":[{"title":"2012","offer_id":49944657428817,"sku":"","price":18.9,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0550\/3218\/4972\/files\/anselmo-mendes-douro-nao-convencional-2012-2317940.jpg?v=1761785239"},{"product_id":"invincible-tinto-2021-2022","title":"Invincible Tinto 2021","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"459\"\u003eThe wine comes from vineyards planted with Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Amarela, Tinta Barroca, Rufete and Tinta Roriz. It's a so-called \u003cem data-start=\"181\" data-end=\"194\"\u003efield blend\u003c\/em\u003e, as the different grapes are grown together. All the vines are over 80 years old. Fermented partly in open cement tanks and partly in oak barrels. Aged in partly new French oak barrels for 18 months.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"461\" data-end=\"766\"\u003eIntense, dark ruby red. Complex, rich aromas of dark fruit, spice, minerality and elegant oak. Full-bodied, intense and deep on the palate, with great structure and a long finish revealing even more ‘nuances’. An extraordinary wine experience.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"412\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHoulberg Vinblog Points:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eNow the intensity and complexity have risen even further, bringing a warm, umami note with hints of nuts, oak barrels, old railway sleepers, teak and mahogany, toast, coffee beans and cocoa, vanilla, dark chocolate and deep dark fruit with blackberry, blackcurrant and black cherries… even a little cherry liqueur, all wrapped in a velvety, smooth, creamy texture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"414\" data-end=\"725\" data-is-last-node=\"\"\u003eAnd that's exactly how the wine tastes: velvety and creamy… with well-balanced acidity, very elegant, vibrant, light and fruity, with notes of cherry, raspberry, rhubarb and blackcurrant. A certain dryness, crisp, smooth tannins, a pure, fresh character… beautifully composed. 94 points.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Companhia de Vinhos Invencível","offers":[{"title":"2021","offer_id":50570873635153,"sku":"","price":48.9,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0550\/3218\/4972\/files\/invincible-tinto-2021-8001066.png?v=1761784881"}],"url":"https:\/\/vinogrande.pt\/en\/collections\/casta-rufete.oembed","provider":"Vinogrande","version":"1.0","type":"link"}