Luis Pato, Vinha Barrio, 2009

The Vinha Barrio abuts Vinha Formal to the east, in full view of the Bussaco Mountains (the western border of Dão) and sits on a pocket of extremely chalky soils with intermittent dollops of sand. The 2009s from Pato are in an incredibly pretty place right now, still with very youthful and buoyant fruit, yet melting tannins and a really succulent mid palate. This is an incredibly crowd pleasing wine.