Caves São João
Frei João Bairrada Baga Blend
Bairrada, Beiras, Portugal
In beautiful shape, better than I remember the last bottle being. Dried red and black fruits, dry dusty tannins, forest floor, dried porcini mushroom and old leather umami nodes, cedar, dried herbs. Did I mention it’s dry? But it’s a beautiful wine, the flavor profile exudes sun baked warmth but the alcohol clocks in at less than 12% so it doesn’t fatigue the palate
In beautiful shape, better than I remember the last bottle being. Dried red and black fruits, dry dusty tannins, forest floor, dried porcini mushroom and old leather umami nodes, cedar, dried herbs. Did I mention it’s dry? But it’s a beautiful wine, the flavor profile exudes sun baked warmth but the alcohol clocks in at less than 12% so it doesn’t fatigue the palate
Jan 6th, 2023Initially very flat, showing mostly woody/herbaceous tones but given a little air the fruit emerges. Sour cherry and cedar, hint of balsamic. Quite nice
Initially very flat, showing mostly woody/herbaceous tones but given a little air the fruit emerges. Sour cherry and cedar, hint of balsamic. Quite nice
Dec 14th, 2019
Medium garnet red with a hint of ruby. Lovely aged nose with notes of wood, tobacco, wet forest floor little raisin and dark cherries. Medium tannins (6/10) and medium bodied. Dry palate with notes of cedar, dried cherries and a touch of spice. Long and lingering finish. Drink till 2022.
Had side by side with a 1985 Chateau Lascombes
Medium garnet red with a hint of ruby. Lovely aged nose with notes of wood, tobacco, wet forest floor little raisin and dark cherries. Medium tannins (6/10) and medium bodied. Dry palate with notes of cedar, dried cherries and a touch of spice. Long and lingering finish. Drink till 2022.
Had side by side with a 1985 Chateau Lascombes
Fun to try. Definitely needed oxygen after 30 years. More sharp berry fruit as it opened up. Became fresher with more time strangely enough. No question this is old world craftiness. Wish I had some good tapas on hand to pair. Oh well. Still fun
Fun to try. Definitely needed oxygen after 30 years. More sharp berry fruit as it opened up. Became fresher with more time strangely enough. No question this is old world craftiness. Wish I had some good tapas on hand to pair. Oh well. Still fun
Aug 3rd, 2018
Those Portuguese...Interestingly enough, '85 is the current vintage on this bottle, go figure.
Our first 100% Baga, dried red fruit is the first on nose, with just minor herbs/vegetal aspects. Needed a lot of air to really get going, intially concerned when I pulled a two-piece cork (should have used The Durand), and had high acid/vinegar notes when heading into the decanter. On the palate, wow, quite fresh after a few hours of rest, great floral and dried red berry notes, perfectly balanced acidity, well integrated tannins. Honestly, blind I could almost think this is aged, Left Bank Bordeaux, St. Julien, very elegant...Wow!
Those Portuguese...Interestingly enough, '85 is the current vintage on this bottle, go figure.
Our first 100% Baga, dried red fruit is the first on nose, with just minor herbs/vegetal aspects. Needed a lot of air to really get going, intially concerned when I pulled a two-piece cork (should have used The Durand), and had high acid/vinegar notes when heading into the decanter. On the palate, wow, quite fresh after a few hours of rest, great floral and dried red berry notes, perfectly balanced acidity, well integrated tannins. Honestly, blind I could almost think this is aged, Left Bank Bordeaux, St. Julien, very elegant...Wow!
Interesting. .....
Interesting. .....
Jul 13th, 2015Smoky, cedar notes. Light body but tannins present and accounted for. Very pretty. The smoke and cedar notes grew the longer it was open
Smoky, cedar notes. Light body but tannins present and accounted for. Very pretty. The smoke and cedar notes grew the longer it was open
Mar 5th, 2017
Interesting wine, not complex, but nice fruit flavors for 30 years old.
Interesting wine, not complex, but nice fruit flavors for 30 years old.
Jan 16th, 2016
Super balanced, great acid and stewed red fruits.
Super balanced, great acid and stewed red fruits.
Jan 10th, 2016Floral, dried herbs, wood smoke, mushrooms
Floral, dried herbs, wood smoke, mushrooms
Dec 13th, 2015