A BOTTLE WE LOVE

Filipa Pato's 'Tola' Bical

You might recall, a few months ago we were gushing over Filipa Pato's 'Flos Castanea' – an innovative skin-contact bottling of Bical that was one of the most intriguing tastes of the year. We're back with another bottle of hers: her most serious wine, and honestly, the best varietal Bical we've ever tasted.

WHAT'S IN THE BOTTLE:

100% biodynamic Bical, a white grape native to Bairrada: a stormy, ocean-weathered region perched on Portugal’s limestone cliffs. It's sourced from her best site, where fully south-facing 60 year old vines grow deep into the Jurassic limestone. Direct pressed into pipa (large neutral barrels traditional to the area), then spends a full year undisturbed in oak followed by a short stint in tank before bottling; unfined, unfiltered.

It's farmed and vinified by Filipa Pato, one of Portugal’s literal handful of certified biodynamic producers (and the daughter of Bairrada's definitive vanguard Luis Pato). The name is a nod to the former owner of the site, Tola – a woman as intense and legendary as this cuvée.

WHY WE DIG IT:

Filipa's farming and long aging in wood takes a high-wire grape with tons of natural acid and marine flavors, and adds layers of texture and length.

It's so very "atlantic." Salty and nutty, it's not about fruit – this is a bottle that sings of Portugal's gorgeous sea and air.

HOW WE'RE DRINKING IT:

Three words: fancy 👏 tapas 👏 night 👏  After the end-of-year entertaining rush, it's the perfect bottle to linger over and savor alongside a suite of salty bites.

SHOP FILIPA PATO