Quinta das Bageiras
Fogueira, Bairrada, Portugal
Located in north-central Portugal, between the mountainous Dão and a mere 30km from the Atlantic coast, Bairrada enjoys a maritime climate, with sufficient rain and cool temperatures that bring bright acidity to its native grapes. Known for sparkling wines and deep colored, structured reds, the region was first recognized as a DOC in 1980, but vineyards have been planted in the area since at least the 10th century. Native variety Baga shines here, delivering rich, elegant, complex reds (not dissimilar from Nebbiolo) and sparkling wines with an intense vinous character. White grapes, like Bical and Maria Gomes, produce unique still and sparkling wines as well, characterized by beautiful aromatics, excellent structure, and bright saline notes.
Quinta das Bágeiras is a family estate that spans four generations. First bottling under their own label in 1989, with only 12 hectares and growing to 28 hectares spread over 10 different vineyard plots, Bageiras produces a range of estate bottled wines. Mario Sergio Alves Nuno works alongside his son Frederico making classic wines that use traditional winery practices. The red wines are made almost exclusively with the Baga grape variety and continue to be produced in open fermentation tanks (lagares) and aged in wooden barrels steeped in wine, rather than the more modern styles of using stainless steel. Even the white wines eschew contemporary practices as they are decanted into a series of small open fermentation tanks before blending and bottling. Wines from Quinta das Bágeiras are known to be amongst the best in Bairrada and Portugal – terroir wines that are full of character with a unique identity and great aging potential.
Our Selections
Quinta das Bageiras Vinho Branco Bairrada Reserva 2021
60% Bical and 40% Maria Gomes (AKA Fernão Pires), harvested by hand, gently pressed and spontaneously fermented - the wine spends 24-36 hours in small open top bins before being transferred to stainless tanks to complete fermentation with only naturally occurring yeasts. Bottled without fining or filtering. This is a delicious wine with the usual, taut, almost austere profile that is characteristic of the house style. Clear with gold tints. Touch of onion skin. Very pretty aroma. Hint of flowers and honey. Medium textured. Very high acidity. Very dry and a little bitter and salty. Excellent! 661cs made.
Quinta das Bageiras Espumante Brut Natural Bairrada Super Reserva 2020
The 2020 Super Reserva is a blend of 50% Maria Gomes (AKA Fernão Pires) and 50% Bical from some of the best fruit available at the estate. These grapes would normally by used for the Garrafeira bottling. This is a “Bruto Natural or Brut Natural,” meaning there is no dosage or additional sugar added to this sparkling wine, which is made using the traditional Methode Champenoise with initial fermentation in stainlesss steel and secondary fermentation in bottle. Remuage or riddling is done by hand. The wine is on the lees for 24 months before disgorgement. This is the pinnacle in sparkling wine from Bairrada, which is typical of the area. The wine features a bright nose of citrus fruits with hints of bitter lemon and lemon rind. The palate is medium textured with just a hint of brioche and the finish is long and persistent.
Quinta das Bageiras Espumante Bruto Natural Tinto 2020
New! 100% Baga made via Methode Champenoise to produce a savory and juicy sparkling red wine. Baga is typically known for its deep structure, but these grapes were chosen for their high acidity and good fruit potential. The base wine was initially fermented in stone lagares then transferred to 3k liter old oak tonels to complete fermentation. Secondary fermentation occurs in bottle to add sparkle. This is a Brut Natural so there is no added sugar. The Bruto Natural Tinto jumps out of the glass with bright and brambly fruit. The palate is generous and savory with excellent length.
Quinta das Bageiras Vinho Tinto Bairrada Reserva 2019
60% Baga and 40% Touriga Nacional planted to clay/limestone soils. Some of the Baga grapes come from old vines, but in years when there is no Garrafeira red, all the grapes from the old vines are destined for this wine. The Reserva Tinto was fermented, with no de-stemming, in small open top lagares for 5-8 days before finishing fermentation in old wooden barrels. The wine is then racked and put back into old barrels where it ages for 18 months before being bottled without filtration.
Beautiful, purple/blue color. Lovely, spicy and dark fruited aroma. Very compelling, intriguing, and complex nose. The palate is medium bodied with medium intensity. Spicy and dark fruited with excellent structure and a dry finish. 13% Alc. Over delivers for the price. 1342 cases made.
Quinta das Bageiras Espumante Rosato Brut Natural Gran Reserva 2015
100% Baga from 75+ year old vines planted to chalk and clay soils. No dosage and no oak. Twelve months of skin contact and a remarkable four years on the lees before disgorgement in 2020.
“Pale blush pink – partridge eye – with a suave, creamy mousse and savoury, vinous complexity, plus chalky, flinty minerality, a lick of salty oyster shell and a delicate suggestion of dried red goji berries and red cherries, spice and flowers. Dry, long, persistent finish. Lovely mouthfeel. 94 Points” - Decanter Magazine
Quinta das Bageiras Vinho Tinto Bairrada Garrafeira 2016
100% old vines (over 90 years old) Baga, fermented for 5 to 8 days in a lagar without destemming (the berries are not removed from the cluster). Subsequently, they are punched down with a wooden punch down tool, several times a day, until they reach the right intensity. Afterwards, the wine finishes its fermentation in old wooden tonels. While it rests, it is decanted and aged in the same tonels for about 18 months. It is bottled without fining or filtration. All these processes are done by hand. It is a wine produced only in exceptional quality years.
Bright red blue. Powerful aromas with deep pencil lead and cracking tobacco and cranberry notes. Really good lift. There's a hint of old wood in there like a Rioja but far brighter. An amazing spice note peculiar to Baga. Stunning. Cherry. 13.5% Alc. Limestone and chalk soils.
From SommSelect: “100% Baga, one of those unique grape varieties that remains a well-guarded secret by those in the know. It’s the signature red grape of the Bairrada, an appellation in northern Portugal that fans out toward the Atlantic coast. The 2016 Garrafeira Tinto is sourced from vines that are well over a century old. This is an authentic snapshot of the Bairrada—a masterclass in “old-school” Baga! With a Bordeaux-like nose, this effort has the elegance of Burgundy, and the structure of Piemontese Nebbiolo; there’s no possible way anyone could mistake this for anything other than a European red. It dazzles with dried currants, dried plum, black cherry, dried rose petals, mushroom, scrub, cedar box, vintage leather, and subtle exotic spices. This a slow-building powerhouse. It’s big, structured, imposing, but supremely graceful, with a meaty palate, and herbal savor. The palate delivers a wine of finesse, astonishing lift, and firm grip, which further confirms the wine will age for multiple decades.”
Quinta das Bageiras Avo Fausto Vinho Tinto Bairrada 2018
As Mario Sergio states ”Our winemaking calling came to life through my grandfather Fausto. He was the first in the family to devote himself to the vineyard and the winery and he was the one who bought the first plots. He passed down his passion for the land to the generations that came after him, as well as the values he always stood by: hard-work, perseverance and integrity. Unlike my father Abel, grandfather Fausto enjoyed more elegant and fresh wines, with softer tannins and less alcohol content (thus allowing him to indulge in one more glass...). The wine named after him was created with these memories in mind, a wine which carries the simplicity and lightness of Fausto himself.”
The Avo Fausto is mostly Baga with some Touriga Nacional. Quite dark and purpley fruit. Lush aroma. High toned plum and black raspberry. It is full-bodied but not massive, with a firm structure and some dusty tannins. 12.5% Alc. This is a delicious red that would be perfect for serving with Bairrada’s local specialty, roast suckling pig.