The Junior Ruby
⏳ Drinking Window
2023 - 2028
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Dark chocolate desserts, blue cheese, berry tarts
✨ Technical Specifications
Niepoort's 'The Junior' Ruby Port is a vibrant, youthful expression of the Douro's classic terroir, designed to showcase fresh, primary red and black fruit characters. Sourced from low-yielding old vineyards in the Cima Corgo region, where vines cling to steep schist slopes, this wine is a blend of traditional Portuguese varieties including Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinto Cão, and Tinta Roriz. Unlike aged Tawnies, 'The Junior' spends an average of three years maturing in large wooden vats (balseiros) in the historic cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia. This minimal oxidation preserves its deep ruby hue and intense fruitiness. The playful name 'The Junior' stands alongside its counterpart 'The Senior' Tawny, reflecting Dirk Niepoort's philosophy of making high-quality Port approachable, energetic, and full of life, while respecting the centuries-old traditions of foot-treading in granite lagares for a portion of the blend.
🍾 About the Producer
Founded in 1842 by Franciscus Marius van der Niepoort, Niepoort is an iconic, independent family-owned house based in Vila Nova de Gaia with historic roots deeply anchored in Portugal's Douro Valley. Renowned for over a century for its benchmark Colheita and Vintage Ports, the estate underwent a dynamic renaissance under fifth-generation visionary Dirk Niepoort, who pioneered the modern era of high-end, unfortified Douro table wines. Championing old field-blend vineyards, low-intervention vinification, and exceptional terroir expression, the producer crafts celebrated dry wines such as Batuta, Charme, and Redoma alongside its expanded projects in Bairrada and the Dão. Today, Niepoort remains a globally revered symbol of Portuguese winemaking, seamlessly bridging timeless fortified heritage with innovative, elegant, and mineral-driven table wines.
🍇 Grape Varieties
Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo), Tinta Barroca, Tinto Cão