Quinta de Foz de Arouce Red 2020 comes from the Beira Atlântico region of Portugal, produced by João Portugal Ramos, commonly known in the trade as JPR. This wine carries the IGP Beira Atlântico designation and is made from indigenous, hand-harvested Portuguese grapes, Baga and Touriga Nacional. It is matured for six months in second-use French oak barrels. It sits at 14% ABV.
Baga remains a relatively underappreciated grape variety, often likened to Pinot Noir or Nebbiolo due to its thin skin and late-ripening nature. However, it produces wines with a firm, sometimes unyielding tannic structure, but here it’s been thoughtfully managed.
This wine is a deep red with a slight tawny edge beginning to show, suggesting it’s just entering an interesting phase of early maturity. Given about twenty minutes to open up, the scent reveals a layered blend of toffee, understated oak, and red fruits. There’s no real need to decant beyond this point.
On tasting, the wine is dry with a lovely rounded fruity texture. The tannins are low-to-medium, achieving a gentler than usual expression of Baga, with soft, integrated tannins and a subtle oak influence, unlike the more forcefully structured wines sometimes found in this part of Portugal. It finishes with great length, likely thanks to the Baga component and there’s a touch of smokiness that might originate from the grape, the oak, or both. It’s worth noting that even unoaked Baga can sometimes deliver a smoky nuance.
This wine delivers harmony and depth, wrapped in a modest yet elegant presentation. It’s an approachable interpretation of Baga, showing restraint where needed and character where it counts. Scoring 4.1 on Vivino, this vintage is currently the highest rated. Available from Wickham Wine at £20.15, it’s suitable those looking to explore a refined, modern take on traditional Portuguese varietals.
