NIEPOORT | DrinkMe | NatCool | Bairrada | 2019
baga
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The wine that we are going to review today is very interesting one, as this is a single-varietal baga wine from the Portugal‘s famous Bairrada region – DrinkMe NatCool Bairrada 2019 by Niepoort. Baga is a red grape variety that produces thick-skinned, tannic and highly acidic wines, grown mainly in the Bairrada region. In the past, the wines made from baga grapes were known to be dense, black-fruit driven, with high acidity and a tar-like finish. The wines were so structured, they would slowly and stubbornly morph into very fine wines over the course of 10 to 20 years, similar to italian nebbiolo. Nowadays things are changing – with modern vinification, one can find a much leaner style of baga wines that are a stark contrast from the old clássico. Today Baga is made in one of the two styles: either as a classic full bodied red wine that is tamed by oak and time or as a very youthful, fresh and fruit-driven wine that can be enjoyed young. NatCool is a wine project that represents an innovative concept initiated by Niepoort, in which various producers came together to create some very light and easy-to-drink wines. The DrinkMe wine is the first wine of the NatCool project, meant to deliver the elegant side of the baga grape variety – an incredibly light and fruity wine that begs to be enjoyed today rather than tomorrow. That said, without further ado, let’s take a look at the wine tasting results.
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Take a look at the tasting notes below and our detailed assessment of the wine:
//Visual
concentration: pale
colour: garnet
clarity: clear
hue/rim: ruby
//Olfactory
intensity: rich
fruit profile: red fruits
__red fruits: cranberry | red currant | sour cherry | berberry
fruit character: ripe
//Flavor
non fruit: spice | animal | other
__spice: red pepper | nutmeg
__animal: iron | veal | musk | horse saddle
__other: cherry seeds | figs
__wood: none
//Palate
sweetness: off dry
acidity: med(+)
alcohol: med(+)
tannin: low
__grip: ripe
body: light & lean
balance: fair
__dominant: sugar & alcohol
complexity: simple
//Taste
fruit profile: red fruits
fruit character: ripe
non fruit: animal
finish: medium
aftertaste: seedy
//Scoring
NIEPOORT | DrinkMe | NatCool | Bairrada | 2019
variety: baga
country: Portugal
region: Bairrada
rating: 89.9
//Conclusion
maturity: on the rise | developing
verdict: fair | not bad
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This is definitely a fair wine of Portugal and, with a total of 89.9 points scored, this wine is right there, among the best wines we’ve rated so far. Check our complete database on the wine rating page, where you can find all the wines that we have tasted and reviewed or go to the about us page and find out more about our exquisite rating system.
Verdict: this is a very expressive baga wine: fruity-gamey, light and lean – a wine that is still on the rise, yet one that is very close to its prime form, therefore drink it now or in the next 6 or 9 months. It tastes round, rich and opulent, with an appealing and slightly savory profile, crisp acidity and a touch of alcoholic warmth on the mouthfeel – this wine is a real crowd-pleaser: easy to drink and slightly sweet, a wine that is not meant for long-term bottle ageing as it definitely lacks structure and complexity. What impressed us though, are the footprints of Bairrada terroir in those nuanced gamey-savory hints of musk and barnyard, that irony-meaty sensation in the mouth and those ripe red fruits flavours on the nose that end up with some very subtle berberry candy hints on the finale – this is definitely a wine with distinctive personality. Cheers!
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© The WineStatistics ratings are based solely on our own knowledge of the world of wine and on our personal wine tastes, which may, or may not, differ from yours – the reader. Just remember that there are no absolutes of right and wrong in wine appreciation.
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WineStatistics is a non-profit community. We produce independent and highly detailed wine reviews.
By training ourselves to stop, take a breath, and pay attention to the subtle elements that distinguish one wine from any other, we learn an important lesson about life – that it’s worth taking the time to slow down and appreciate things that pleases us, from a glass of wine to a great work of art. It’s a simple way to learn to appreciate the little things in life that may in some small way enhance our enjoyment of every day.
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WineStatistics is a non-profit community. We produce independent and highly detailed wine reviews.
By training ourselves to stop, take a breath, and pay attention to the subtle elements that distinguish one wine from any other, we learn an important lesson about life – that it’s worth taking the time to slow down and appreciate things that pleases us, from a glass of wine to a great work of art. It’s a simple way to learn to appreciate the little things in life that may in some small way enhance our enjoyment of every day.
In order to continue our work we need support from people like you. People who appreciate our contribution in spreading wine knowledge and raising wine awareness across the borders.
You may now support us by contributing with a monthly donation so that we can review even more wines.
WineStatistics is a non-profit community. We produce independent and highly detailed wine reviews.
By training ourselves to stop, take a breath, and pay attention to the subtle elements that distinguish one wine from any other, we learn an important lesson about life – that it’s worth taking the time to slow down and appreciate things that pleases us, from a glass of wine to a great work of art. It’s a simple way to learn to appreciate the little things in life that may in some small way enhance our enjoyment of every day.
In order to continue our work we need support from people like you. People who appreciate our contribution in spreading wine knowledge and raising wine awareness across the borders.
You may now support us by contributing with a yearly donation so that we can review even more wines.
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