Niepoort Projectos Docil Branco Loureiro 2024

A deep, crystalline straw in the glass, this 2024 Loureiro from Dirk Niepoort is a striking reminder of why we look to Portugal for some of the most vibrant whites in the shop. This isn’t your average, fizzy porch-pounder; while it possesses the joyful lightness of Vinho Verde, it offers a level of concentration and mineral focus that is a rare find in the category.

Sourced from twenty-year-old vines grown on granite soils—and now leaning even more toward the cooling influence of the Atlantic—the 2024 vintage is a triumph of balance. On the nose, it’s remarkably expressive, leaping with notes of lime zest, green apple, and wet stone, tied together by a delicate floral whisper of hawthorn. On the palate, the attack is sharp and precise. Think of it as a Portuguese nod to a German Kabinett trocken: there’s just a touch of residual sugar to perfectly offset the electric, citrus-driven acidity, creating a wine that is lean, thirst-quenching, and exceptionally clean.

A staff favorite for anything involving a squeeze of lemon, this is a natural partner for ceviche, grilled sardines, or fresh salads. It’s a joyful, sincere bottle that captures the essence of the granite-inflected terroir of the Lima Valley.