Vinhas Velhas Tinto 2019, Luis Pato, Bairrada

A perfumed, elegant red fruit with delicate spices and firm tannins.

Luís Pato has been making wine here since 1980, ten years after his father became the first producer to estate bottle wines after the Bairrada DOC was granted.

These days, and more than 30 vintages later, Luis has 60 hectares of vines, majoring on Baga for red wines, and Bical and Maria Gomes for whites. A considerable proportion of production is also in sparkling wine, both metodo classico and metodo antigo (Bairrada has been, since the 1890s, the cradle of sparkling wine production in Portugal).

Winemaking has moved from the grounds of the family house in Ois do Bairro, to a smart winery in Amoreira de Gandara, and, of course, these days Luis Pato is not only the most famous producer in his region, but enjoys a global reputation too.

Luis Pato’s flagship red comes from a selection of old vineyards and therefore different soil types, with all vines over 40 years old (and some much older). This includes a small part coming down from the top Pan and Barrosa cuvees. Stainless steel vinification with a over a year aging in used french barrels results in a fantastic red wine, so very typical of the region and the baga grape variety.