Professional Ratings

• 98 James Suckling
  An expressive and elegant expression of this native grape. Aromas of bitter liqueur, anise, macerated black cherries, tobacco leaves, dried rose petals and violets, with a rich, refined palate and supple tannins. From a vineyard planted in 1864 and rehabilitated in 2015. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold.
• 96 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
  The 2023 Nossa Missão is a super-limited bottling of vines believed to be 160 years old (planted in 1864!) on stony limestone soils. This is the follow-up to the exceptional 2021 I tasted last time, because the wine was not produced in 2022. The vineyard was abandoned when they took over from the previous owner, who was very sad to not be able to work it, because it was planted by his great grandfather. They cleaned the soils, did a short pruning and brought it back to life. It's set on a mild incline oriented to the east, with soil that consists of shallow limestones with red clay and pebbles. The grapes fermented with a portion of full clusters with indigenous yeasts, and there were punch-downs for three weeks. It aged for 18 months in a traditional "pipa" oak cask. It has a moderate 12.5% alcohol and 5.71 grams of acidity. This is the more Italian of the reds here—it shows you why some people tell you Baga is the Portuguese cousin of Nebbiolo. It has elegant rusticity and floral, earthy aromas but in a subtle way, and it is quite harmonious and with abundant, very chalky tannins. This is surprisingly approachable, but there's no need to drink it anytime soon, as it should develop further complexity in bottle.