Frei Joao Branco 1988

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Founded in 1920 by the Costa brothers, Caves São João became a key player in Portuguese winemaking with its iconic brands "Frei João" from Bairrada and "Porta dos Cavaleiros" from Dão. Initially focused on fine Douro wines, the winery shifted to Bairrada table and sparkling wines after a 1930 regulation restricted Port production. Under French enologist Gaston Mainousson, Caves São João gained a reputation for quality wines. Though demand for Bairrada and Dão wines waned in the 1990s, they saw a resurgence 20 years later as consumers sought finesse and freshness. In 2013, the Costa family began releasing library vintages from 1959 to 2000, showcasing the remarkable aging potential of their wines. Today, Caves São João remains the only Portuguese winery to offer such historic vintages commercially, blending tradition with continuous innovation.

WHAT MAKES THIS WINE UNIQUE?

This is an opportunity to taste a perfectly aged, mature Bairrada white, showcasing the capacity for longevity that this region is known for. A library release from the winery itself, with the bottles kept in pristine condition for decades, these wines show a complexity that cannot be derived in any other way.

RATING HISTORY:

1980 90W&S Magazine

GRAPE:

40% Maria Gomes, 40% Bical, 15% Cerceal, 5% Rabo de Ovelha. Vines planted in the 1950. Tended in clay and limetsone soil at 50-100 m (164-328 ft) elevation

PAIRING SUGGESTIONS:

Pair this with delicate seafood dishes, simply prepared chicken and pork, or softer ripe cheese.

VINIFICATION AND AGING:

Open tank, fermentation with extended skin contact. 24 months in cement, filtered and bottled. These bottles come to us straight from the winery.

TASTING NOTES:

This is a wine that wants air after being sealed for 30 years – decant prior to serving for a couple hours. Ranges deep gold to orange in the glass. On the nose: pine, beeswax, mushrooms, dried orchard fruit, acacia, dried flowers. On the palate, surprisingly fresh and bright. Finesse and richness play complementary roles. The mature fruit continues on the palate with umami-laden flavors of mushroom, sappy candied orange zest, pear and mineral. 30 second-plus finish.

ALCOHOL CONTENT:

12%

UPC CODE:

5601831204329