This Vinhas Velhas is a red wine from vineyards with an average age of 40-45 years. The wine represents the true expression of the producer Luis Pato who began making wines from old vines in 1988, in the Bairrada wine region of Portugal.
The history of Luís Pato wines begins when João Pato began bottling his wines, from his own vineyard, in 1970. After becoming the first bottling producer in the Bairrada region after its demarcation, his son Luís Pato continued his father’s work and thus, in 1980, a new era began in the family business.
He was a pioneer in many aspects when it came to wine production in Portugal. In 1985 he started two revolutions in Bairrada: he made red wine from stemmed grapes and aged the wine in new French oak barrels.
In 1988 he planted Baga on “free foot” (non-grafted vines) to understand pre-phylloxera wines and produced the first Vinhas Velhas in the country, a single-varietal Baga wine of exceptional quality and absolute rarity, which is today sought after by connoisseurs as a treasure.
Currently, the company has 60 hectares of vineyards, distributed between sandy and clay-limestone soils, and with a varied range of prestigious wines.
The wine was made with 100% Baga grape, which is an indigenous Portuguese grape variety, perfectly adapted to the climate and chalky-clay soils of Bairrada.
At the end of August, the first harvest is made for the production of sparkling wine from the same grapes, of about 2/3, to increase the concentration and anticipate the maturation of the grapes left in the vine to harvest at the end of September to produce this Vinhas Velhas wine.
Vinified in stainless steel vats for 10 days, and it was matured in used casks for 12 months.
The wine presents a slightly brownish garnet color.
On the nose, great complexity in aromas. It reveals intense notes of berry fruits, blueberry, blackberry and raspberry, with thyme, and evolving into notes of cherry, pine, dark chocolate and a touch of black pepper.
On the palate, it remains expressive with suggestions of fresh cherry, dried plum, vanilla and black olives, with light smoke. It shows a silky texture, and the bright acidity is perfectly balanced with the body. Elegant and fresh, full-bodied wine, with engaging and excellent structure. The aftertaste is prolonged with licorice and medicinal herbs.
This drink has an intense, fresh and impressive profile. In the end, it is exciting as it presents a silky structure and balanced acidity to give it a long life, but it also has the depth to support these structural items.
The wine is full of power and fruit, with an enormous aging capacity.
Luís Pato Vinhas Velhas is a wine that goes very well with game and other red meat dishes.
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