Quinta das Bàgeiras “Avô Fausto” Branco

Bairrada , Portugal  |  2020

Quinta das Bágeiras is one of Portugal’s most important quality producers. Bágeiras is located in the Bairrada region, an Atlantic-influenced region, just 15 kilometers from the coast. While the family was a longtime grower in the region, it wasn’t until 1989, when Mário Sérgio Alves Nuno decided to stop selling the grapes of vineyards belonging to his grandparents, that Bágeiras began creating estate-bottled wines. Quinta das Bágeiras isn't the oldest winery in Bairrada, but it is focused on tradition, and the wines do express the region and the identity of the vineyards as well as the people making the wines. Production of the wines is accomplished through traditional methods, but with consideration for developments in viticulture and oenology. The grapes are handpicked, and the wines are produced in a variety of types of vessels, employing only natural yeasts.

“Avô Fausto” is a special wine, an homage to their grandfather Fausto, who was the first of the family to purchase a vineyard in Bairrada. His love for elegant, fresh wines with softer tannins and less alcohol is the goal for the Avô Fausto white.

We just received 24 bottles of the 48 bottles total that were allocated to Illinois for the vintage. Produced from very old-vine Maria Gomes from a single vineyard noted for its early ripening, and low yields. This combination of high acidity, yet intensity provides the perfect material. It was fermented in used French Burgundy barrels with natural yeast, with a small amount of bâttonage for added richness. Like all Bágeiras wines it was not fined or filtered.

Beautiful aromas of white flowers, citrus peel and mineral can be found on the nose. Medium-weight on the palate with more citrus notes, hints of hazelnut, and repeating mineral notes. This wine is truly versatile at the dinner table from simply prepared shellfish to roasted suckling pig, a food staple of the Bairrada region.