Barrel tasting with Luis;
The bical had wonderful structure and balance, not going purely for fruit notes. At 13% alcohol it was mouth-filling but had great minerality and extension on the palate.
The baga wines varied between barrels, the sandy soils tended to have more focused structure and tannins through the middle of the palate, brighter more restrained red fruits and purity, as well as some subtle spice and pepper characters. The chalky clay soils were a little fuller and broader with darker fruit, less spice and more tannin but in a more mellow profile.
The touriga nacional was soft and full, quite grippy in tannins and good concentration, full and expressive without the same structure and ageing potential as the baga wines.
Finished wines with lunch;
Casta Baga Bruto 2010
A nice dark pink colour. Good texture and weight, bright berry fruit, fresh finish. Balance and liveliness.
Vinhas Velhas 2010 (cerceal, sercialinho)
Light pale fruit aromatics. Fresh lime Riesling influenced fruit with a little more depth and character, less minerality. Fresh vibrant but wonderful character.
Vinha (vineyard) Pan 2008 (baga chalky-clay soil)
Very tight on the palate, aromatically a little off, focus light palate, not expressing much, I don’t think the bottle is showing well.
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| Luis started this cellar after a visit to Melbourne in 2002 |
The Intrepid Wino 