If anyone can take credit for championing the Bairrada region and putting it firmly back on the map it is Luís Pato, and of course his daughter Filipa who has her own range of extremely good wines.
This is not his top of the range red but it is in that price range where we start to hope for something a little special (around €12/€13) and it certainly delivers.
What I love about the wines made by the Pato family is their individuality and this is a good example. Made from the Bairrada’s traditional red Baga grape, planted on chalky soil from vines of over 40 years old, the wine is fermented in stainless steel for 10 days before being matured for 12 months in used oak casks.
The result is a silky smooth wine of medium to full body with fine tannins, extremely well balanced acidity and discreet berry fruit notes on the nose. An excellent partner indeed for the Christmas turkey…
By PATRICK STUART [email protected]
