Luis Pato Vinha Barrosa 2014

From an old vineyard with more than 100 years, in Aguim, surrounded by a pine forest where there are also some eucalyptus that add to the wine a complementary complexity that the age of the vine already gives. Barrosa vineyard is now a Luis Pato monopole (last plot bought 2007). He rebuilt the original vineyard that had been split by inheritance. 100-year-old vines. This is a Baga, although there may be some scattered white grapes in the field blend (around 1%, Pato said). No first picking (ie green harvest where the fruit is used for fizz base wine) necessary in these older, lower-yielding and more evenly ripening vines. Vinified in stainless steel vats during 2 weeks under temperature control. Matured during a year in new and used Allier oak casks.
Mid cherry red. Much more minty than the Vinha Pan just tasted (pine and eucalyptus), a touch herbal. Great perfume and finesse. Intense and still elegant, scented, filled with red fruit but also has the complexity of the mintiness and the spice. Really intense and almost biting in its freshness. Round tannins in the mouth. Notes of tobacco, wood, red fruit and a bit of mild vegetable. Fills the mouth and has long end. Good structure. A Burgundian style wine with good acidity. It will age for 15 or 20 years. To be dished up with red meats roasted in the oven as well as gamey meat without forgetting dishes with duck.
“So, perfumed on the nose: fragrant cherry aroma with a touch of eucalyptus and balsam. Juicy, sweet-fruited and compact, fine chalky texture but very perfumed on the palate too. Seductive and mouth-watering. So much more to come. (JH)” - JH, JancisRobinson.com