Luis Pato Vinhas Velhas Tinto

Ruby dark in colour. The bouquet shows earthy notes, dark fruit, like plum, raspberry, ripe blueberries, notes of eucalyptus berries and mint are evident. The palate is elegant and brings fruit to the touch of creaminess from the new oak. It doesn't lack for a sense of provenance, however, as is revealed by red fruit intensity both in mid-palate and the long finish.

Luis Pato (which is Portuguese for ‘duck’) is the best-known producer in the Bairrada region. He’s widely regarded as the modernizer who brought a struggling region back to life, but I think it’s unfair to see him just in this light, because his wines have a traditional side to them, and he’s also a champion of the local red grape, Baga. He's a bit of a maverick, pushing boundaries with no time for rules. He has the vision to experiment, regularly trying out new things, making improvements little by little in a constant drive to get the best from his grapes. Luis describes himself as a 'free' winemaker. He believes that the fact that he trained as a chemical engineer and not an oenologist has given him a different perspective on making wine. His philosophy marries old-world style and Latin-born influence with an appreciation of a more Anglo-Saxon style vision. Oh, and he is also a pragmatist! Filipa, Pato's daughter, also a trained chemical engineer, hasn't just followed in her father's footsteps, she's gained a reputation in her own right. An innovator like her father with a similar bent for pushing boundaries. One thing that father and daughter share too is a desire to make wines as naturally as possible. Filipa says she aims to make 'authentic wines without make-up'.