Tiago Teles "Gilda" Bairrada '22

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, but they are among the most complex wines in the Iberian Peninsula, and some of the very best have come from Bairrada. 
 
Tiago Teles is one of Portugal’s top winemakers, and he has done so as an advocate for natural wines that reflect their terroir. The wines are made with a thoughtful approach, using the freshness of Bairrada to produce wines with the utmost drinkability. “Gilda” is named after a wooden boat, skillfully handmade and adapted by Tiago’s grandfather to the sailing conditions in the Ria de Aveiro, on which it travelled in the spirit of family and friendship. The picture on the label of this bottle originates from a photograph taken by Tiago’s father in 1984 that was lost but rediscovered in 2011.
 
Castelão is an important yet relatively unsung grape, though in recent yeats it has become better known in Portugal for its ability to produce fresh, low-alcohol red wines. “Gilda” is a red blend, produced with 75% Castelão, 20% Tinta Barroca, and 5% Alfrocheiro from different plots. The winemaking is low intervention, and fermentation is carried out spontaneously. Vinification is in old wood barrels. The wine is unfined and unfiltered.

Lifted aromas of macerated strawberry, forest floor, and white pepper. Light-bodied, yet packed with flavor, it is a super versatile red, pairing with everything from fish to roasted chicken.