Filipa Pato Nossa Calcario 2019

This refined Bairrada red showcases pure aromas of red cherry, raspberry, cranberry, and violet with pronounced limestone-driven minerality and subtle earthy spice. Light to medium-bodied, the palate is precise and elegant with fine tannins, vibrant acidity, and lifted red fruit, finishing long, fresh, and deeply terroir-driven.

Food Pairing: Roast poultry, duck breast, grilled pork, mushroom dishes, charcuterie, soft cheeses, and refined Mediterranean cuisine.

95 Points - Robert Parker Wine Advocate

The 2019 Nossa Calcário red is a Baga from old vines. It was aged for 18 months in second-use French oak and comes in at 12.7% alcohol. This is hardly a big, blockbuster-style wine with super-ripe fruit and lots of concentration. That's not really the grape or the region, and Pato tends to make a rather refined version. This sure does show you, though, what the difference is between this and something like the Post-Quercus or the D.N.M.C. reds also reviewed in this report. Here, there is more stuffing, for starters. It is not only fresh, silky, elegant and lively, but here there is also some tension on the finish. It coats the palate respectably, too, while the mid-palate nicely counters the acidity and ripe tannins. There's more tannic pop on the finish, though—a real backbone that will serve this in good stead as it ages. Baga does age well and this should, too, but it is made in a more approachable, less rustic style. If you want to drink this now you could, but that would be a bad mistake, as it is still a little disjointed. With a few years, it should become more harmonious and more interesting. There is no rush. It should hold at least for 20 years from the vintage date, probably more. It's a silky beauty.