The Wonderful Complexity of Luis Pato’s Vinhas Velhas Tinto

Wines of Portugal 

We’re moving on today to another Portuguese wine and, of course, another region for a wonderfully dark and rich red.

The Vinhas Velhas Tinto from Luis Pato is another favorite. The beautiful color of this wine is very enticing. The wine is from the Bairrada region of the country and you get a hint of the soil make-up in the glass — clay and a bit of chalk. This really works with the wine’s raspberry, vanilla, black olive, black plum, pine and dark chocolate aromas. It’s especially good after decanting.

This Vinhas Velhas Tinto is made from 100& Baga grapes — think Nebiollo — and it drinks much lighter than it looks. Still, this bottle would be perfect with red meat, game and cheese. Spicy and salty, this is a great table wine and if it’s higher price point, when compared to the others we’ve reviewed so far, might give you a second thought, the complexity you’ll experience on the mouth and in the glass should push you to a “buy” decision. You’ll find it online at about $30.