An exciting amphorae-aged Baga: Filipa Pato & William Wouters Post Quercus Baga 2013

Oh my, the customers of Bottle Apostle should count themselves very lucky with the latest exclusive from Bairrada’s Filipa Pato.  Like her father Luis Pato, she is forever pushing the boundaries and to great effect with this utterly beguiling amphorae-aged Baga.

So delicate is this Baga that it really took the breath away.  The sommeliers on my trip were confounded by it given the grape’s reputation for tannic heft.  This, they decided, was a vin de soif.  And I quite agree, because it’s remarkably approachable.  For Pato while “it keeps the authenticity [of grape and region] you can drink it and not get tired…it’s easy to understand.”

Here are my notes:

Filipa Pato & William Wouters Post Quercus Baga 2013 (Bairrada)

This pale ruby wine is made from exactly the same old vine grapes which go into Pato’s Nossa Calcario.  However, unlike Nossa which is aged in oak (quercus), this wine was aged underground in two 300l amphorae.  Amphorae first because they are made of clay – the soil of the region (indeed which gives its name to the region).  Second because the clay allows for a gentle micro-oxygenation which, together with a hands off approach vis a vis extraction (it simply undergoes a long ferment on skins), accounts for its silkily fine tannins.   The fruit is ever so pretty and pure – red cherry, cherry stone and juicy plum and, though delicate, it glows intently, lingering long on the palate.  Just lovely – a joyous summer’s day red in handy picnic perfect half bottles at that. 11.5% abv.