Luis Pato Vinhas Velhas, Branco 2019

Luis Pato is widely regarded as the person who put the wines of Bairrada on the world map. He started making wines in 1980, ten years after his father started bottling the first Bairrada wines, once the region was legally recognised.

He is a charismatic winemaker, who we like a lot, who makes wine combining science, technology and tradition. Bairrada is a region in between Porto and Lisbon, it produces very traditional Portuguese wines!

The reds are firm, and some require many years of ageing, but we think are delicious, the whites are made from several different grape varieties, none of which are particularly household names. However, we think they are well worth seeking out. This particular white is the Luis Pato Vinhas Velhas Branco, his old vines white wine. It's a really interesting blend of Bical, Cercial and Cercialinho, I know!

What is important is how it tastes. It's honeyed, and feels rich, but it also has great balancing freshness, and isn't heavy at all, it hasn't been oak aged, it weighs in at only 12.5%. The cooling Atlantic helps cool the temperatures in this region, allowing the freshness and drinkability to come forward.

This wine is lovely now, but is built to last, we have tried examples more than 15 years old. A great match to our cod supper.