Charme 2024 counts among Portugal’s most extraordinary red wines. The grapes originate from old vineyards—ranging from over 70 to more than 100 years of age—in Vale de Mendiz at the heart of the Pinhão Valley. Steep, schist-dominated slopes at elevations between 300 and 350 metres yield tiny crops and endow the wine with its hallmark delicacy and mineral depth. With Charme, the Niepoort family deliberately pursues a Burgundian-inspired style in which elegance, transparency, and finesse take clear precedence over power and extraction. Regarded as one of the most personal interpretations of the Douro, it is the estate’s only dry red wine vinified in the historic granite lagares of Vale de Mendiz.

In the Douro, the 2024 growing season was exceptionally balanced. Following a wet winter, soil water reserves were fully replenished, ensuring optimal vine hydration throughout the vegetative cycle. Budbreak began in early March, and vine development remained even and healthy under low disease pressure. Véraison set in by mid-July, while in late August and early September the grapes retained remarkable freshness despite advanced ripeness. These conditions enabled an early harvest with an ideal equilibrium between aromatic ripeness, acidity, and moderate alcohol.

Charme 2024 is crafted from a blend of traditional Douro varieties—including Tinta Roriz, Touriga Franca, and other heritage cultivars—from old field-blend vineyards. The fruit is gently foot-trodden as whole clusters in traditional granite lagares. Following a brief, intensive pre-fermentation maceration, fermentation begins in the lagares before being completed in French oak barriques. The wine then matures for 15 months in French oak barriques, building structure and complexity without masking the delicacy of the fruit.

Charme 2024 opens with an exceptionally fine and elegant bouquet. Fresh cherries and rhubarb intertwine with floral nuances, subtle notes of Mediterranean herbs, and a touch of mint. On the palate, the wine captivates with its silky texture and remarkable lightness of touch without sacrificing depth. Bright red fruit unfolds with clarity and precision, carried by vibrant acidity that imparts tension and energy. Fine-grained, seamlessly integrated tannins underscore its elegant character, while the mineral imprint of the schist soils lends added freshness and complexity to the long finish. Lingering notes of cherry, herbs, and floral accents grace the aftertaste. Charme 2024 marries the finesse of great Burgundy with the soul and terroir of the Douro, offering outstanding ageing potential.