Casa da Passarella O Fugitivo Bastardo 2020

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 A couple of months ago I have gone through a rather emotional moment as a shelf I have just started putting my wines in the basement has suddenly fallen apart. 

I can not really find the appropriate words to describe the shock it has taken over me as I have seen an almost literal river of wine gurgling out of the broken bottles invading the basement of my neighbours as well.  

After having cleaned a mess of broken glasses that were swimming in a dark and almost viscous liquid that has left an intense smell all over the garage attracting a huge number of neighbours that have came to witness my misery, I have decided not to have a look at what I have lost. 

I know there were a couple of bottles that I have bought for a special moment but, instead of looking to what I have lost, I have decided to celebrate the ones that have survived. 

One of them was this Bastardo from Casa da Passarella.

And I couldn't be more happy about it. 

This has been a wine that I have been storing aiming to open at a special moment. Somehow the opening of it converted a perfectly normal moment into a special one. 

With a light and slightly pale colour remembering Pinot Noir, it has gripping tannins and a density that can compete directly with Nebbiolo. Even though it has already started presenting the first tertiary aromas, the primary red fruits notes were still very defined and lively conferring it a beautiful complexity.

The granitic soils typical in the sub region of Serra da Estrela in the Dao region confer a satisfying freshness to a wine which somehow matches the demands of the market for fresher and low alcoholic wines. 

This is a really fascinating wine which reflects the main characteristics of a not so known grape which originates from Jura under the name of Trousseau. Even though it has a french origin, Portugal counts as being the land where it is the most planted, mainly due to its use in Port wine. 

To find it solo  can really be a challenge and in such good quality, a tremendous pleasure. 

And taking in account that it has survived the disaster that has came across me, made it even more special. 

  

17/20
Country: Portugal
Region: Dao
Grapes: Bastardo
13%
Winemaker:  Paulo Nunes

Website: https://casadapassarella.pt/pt/vinhos/bastardo

 

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