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“Tough” is an adjective commonly attributed to Baga, a red wine grape variety, growing on richly foliated vines in Portugal’s Bairrada region. Ironically, this tough, thick-skinned grape rots easily in the cool moisture of Bairrada. It is even susceptible to a malady called powdery. Yet, the grape has a reputation of being tough due to its high level of acid and tannins, which it lends generously to the wines made from it. 

The old fashioned winemaking method produced a thick, richly colored, and tannic wine that left the mouth dry. The reason for this was the practice of fermenting Baga wines in entire clusters along with the stems. The Baga stems have a higher level of tannins than the grapes. The winemaker’s intention was to preserve the wines because tannins are great preservatives of wine. But, the result was a mediocre wine that did not attract the attention of those with a taste for fine, balanced wines. 

Modern wine producers have developed ways to make Baga wines of a finer quality by simply discarding the stems before fermentation. Two beautiful wines, produced in Luis Pato’s vineyard—Vinha Pan 2003 and Vinha Barossa 2003, are excellent examples of modern Baga wines. Amazing wines, such as Espumante Casta Baga 2003, have been produced by mixing a percentage of Baga grapes with a different variety. 

Dave Worthington, who delights in Spanish wines, has given tasting notes on different types of Spanish wines. He has also mentioned the effects of Vinha Pan 2003 and Vinha Barossa 2003 on the palate. Both wines go very well with a Portuguese dish of suckling pig and piri piri sauce. 

Vinha Pan 2003: This wine has captured the flavor of the new French oak, in which it has spent nearly a year. Full-bodied and with an attractive purple tinge, it complies with international standards. Its flavor hints of berries, cola, earth, and spices, and is just as refined as it is powerful. 

Vinha Barrosa 2003: This exotic wine feels smooth and silky in the mouth. Its fragrance and flavor brings to mind violets, berries, plum, earth, mushroom, herbs, and spices. To put it shortly, it is scrumptious.

 

Filed under: Red Wines