2018 Batuta Tinto
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Tasting notes
The 2018 Batuta is a field blend from old vines (like Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Rufete, Malvazia Preta) aged for 22 months in 50% new French oak. It comes in at just 12.6% alcohol. Often seeming to lack enough flesh and concentration for a wine at this price level—and that tends to be deliberate as the theme of the wine—Batuta often compensates with elegance, aromatics and expressive fruit. Still, right now, this would be my least favorite of the last few vintages, granting that they are not all here together. The wine has come together as a tight, textured and fresh wine, without much exuberance in its fruit profile. The fruit is understated and a little dull, while the wine finishes dry and with some tannic pop. The tannins are still relatively ripe, so you can drink this now. However, this will certainly benefit from a couple of years more in the cellar. The structure here is very good, the fruit profile a little less so. It will certainly be a perfect food wine, but whether it turns into anything to talk about is a question as to which I have some doubt. Let's be conservative and start here. There were 8,600 bottles produced from old vines (70+ years).
Critic scores
Average Score
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
Mark Squires
More reviews and scores
Field blend of old vines at 350–700 m. The 2018 vintage was relatively cool up until August, with the coldest July recorded of the 21st century. In comparison with 2017, ripening was delayed by about three weeks. The first days of August brought a sudden increase in temperatures, with 4 August being the hottest day of the 21st century (to date). This meant that the grapes matured slowly in the month of September. Due to water stress, they obtained musts with low alcohol content and good phenolic ripeness. Fermentation in stainless-steel tanks, with skin contact for c 80 days. Following this long maceration period, the wine matured for about 20 months in French barriques, with 50% new wood. TA 5.15 g/l, pH 3.53. Niepoort uses the most beautiful corks, long and shiny. Glowing, healthy deep cherry red – probably the lightest of the 2018s in this Douro line-up, and also the lowest in alcohol. Subtle but definite red fruits with a hint of something a little meaty/leathery or earthy, hard to pin down but it is a bit disconcerting. No obvious sign of the oak even though half was new. Extremely fine tannins, paper-fine but layered and present, almost chalky. Fresh and elegant with underlying power. Although this is very youthful, the harmony is clear. Long, clean finish. Very moreish. This may not be the most impressive of the Douro 2018s in this line-up but it is the one I most want to drink now even if it is infanticide. But that doesn’t mean it won’t age well. Tasting the 2017 alongside (Coravin-ed after I tasted it nine months ago ), it seems richer and, counter-intuitively, a little more influenced by the oak but also more mineral/dusty and firmer in its chalky texture. More tannic and closed than the lively 2018, not as much vivid freshness but probably needing a longer lead time. The score and drink dates here are for the recently released 2018. (JH)
About the producer
Product details
Touriga Franca/Touriga Francesa, Tinta Barroca, Tempranillo, Other
Red
Dry