At last weeks Wines of Portugal tasting in support of the ESO, here in Edmonton, I thought the Pato Formal was the best white out of about 20 I tasted. I have some Pato whites in the cellar so picked this one out to celebrate Canadas first gold medal in the Olympics!
WTN: `07 Luis Pato Vinhas Velhas Branco Beiras, Portugal.
12% alc, $22 Cdn, good natural cork, has seen some oak, chalky/clay soils, blend of Cerceal, Sercialinho and Bical grapes. Tried to serve this white not too chilled.
Color. Pale yellow with greenish tints.
Nose. Usual Portuguese mish mash! Quite expressive, herbal, floral with some tropical fruit which did not appeal to this drinker. Lemon good but pineapple and apricot, nagh!
Palate. Initial entry thoughts were off-dry, ripe-ish white stone fruits, good acidity. "Some vanilla here" from across the table but I thought oak non-intrusive. I like the taste much better than the nose, some minerality here mixed in with the citrus finish which was quite strong on day 2. Think I prefer the Formal however.
***** I tend to rank the Pato whites behind Crasto and CARM, but not by much.