Quinta das Bágeiras "Colheita" Branco '19

In Portugal, fans of cool-climate, old world wines look to the Bairrada region. This Atlantic-influenced region produces a wide variety of wines from sparkling to white to red. Not only are the wines great everyday values, they can be some of the most complex wines in the Iberian Peninsula. Of the many 10 or 20 year-old bottles that I have had a chance to enjoy over the years, some of the very best have come from Bairrada. One of the very best producers of Portugal is Quinta das Bágeiras. We fight to get small quantities from this producer, who is beloved by local Portuguese enophiles. We just received an infrequent shipment, and we can't wait for you to try this exceptional white wine value. The "Colheita" Branco is produced predominantly from a blend of Bical and Maria Gomes. The must is put into open top decanters and allowed to naturally settle for 24 to 36 hours. From there it is fermented in stainless steel tanks, always using natural yeasts. That early introduction of oxygen to the must helps the wine both from a complexity standpoint, but also giving it the ability to age. We bring this up because this humble $16 bottle of white, really opens in the glass as you drink it. Showing off the floral quality of the Maria Gomes when it is first poured, the Bical brings citrus notes and zippy acidity. If you don't drink this bottle in short time, you can drink the bottle over a couple nights, by just replacing the cork and keeping it in the fridge. This white is a great food wine, from seafood to roasted pork, it is extremely versatile. Don't miss this while we have it, with only 15,000 bottles produced, most drunk in Portugal, it will disappear from our shelves soon.