2021 Filipa Pato, Baga “Dinamico” Vinho, Bairrada D.O.C. Red Wine, Portugal.
The 2021 Dinamico Baga is electric shock fresh and spicy stuff, it is a lighter medium bodied red wine that excites the palate with pomegranate, strawberry, bramble berry and Brazilian Acai fruits, along with zingy cinnamon, pepper, mineral notes, a touch of earth and crushed flowers. This vintage shows a cool clarity of flavors and brisk details with racy acidity that keeps things bright and focused, it is one of the most compelling versions to date. To create her wines, Filipa Pato works her estate with biodynamic practices, and with very minimal-intervention or natural winemaking in the cellar and with a focus of local and historic grapes to the region. The use of different sites adds depth here with the clay and limestone soils producing Baga with lighter tannins and more depth of concentration, whereas the schist-based soils produce firmer tannins and some highlight the spice and mineral dimension. The 100% Baga “Dinamico” is sourced partially from Filipa and William’s estate vineyards in Ois do Bairro, and partially from other growers in various villages in the Bairrada zone. Only handpicked and fully de-stemmed all organic grapes are used, with a native yeast fermentation employed and then it is raised entirely in tank. Filipa, who is intensely passionate about her region and the local varietals here, like this Baga, is admired in the natural wine community and beyond for her talents.
As mentioned in my earlier reviews, this is one of my favorite producers in Portugal, Filipa Pato, along with her husband, Belgian sommelier and restaurateur William Wouters, make what they call vinhos autênticos sem maquilagem, which translates to ‘Authentic Wines Without Makeup.’ and use only ancient native varietals like Baga, the grape in this lovely little red wine wine from her home region of Bairrada. The, as noted, no wood and tank raised Dinamico Vinho red is deliciously fresh and a ridiculous bargain, it delivers a ripe and vibrant array of racy red fruits on the medium bodied palate, along with vibrant acidity, like a Gamay or Pinot Noir, spice and mineral notes, it way over performs for the price, making this wine even more attractive and an excellent choice for holiday meals. Filipa, who is intensely passionate about her region of the unique varietals here, like this Baga, as well as Bical, Cercial and Maria Gomes, the main local white grapes found in Bairrada. The Pato offerings highlight the Atlantic continental climate and region’s nature exceptionally well, they are raw, authentic and stylish wines, I especially love this one, with its vividly ruby/garnet Baga hue in the glass, it can be served with a slight chill too, and I really enjoy her sparkling Rosé 3D, as well as her white, made with the other rare local varietal Bical, I highly recommend searching these wines out!
($17 Est.) 92 Points, grapelive