2020 Bojo do Luar ‘Luar Rosa’

Region: Marco de Canavese < Vinho Verde < Portugal

Grapes: Tinta Cão, Vinhão, Loureiro + a touch of other native varieties

Vineyard/Cellar Stats: Organic farming; deep granitic soils; quick maceration, spontaneous fermentation in concrete and stainless steel with chestnut flower addition as a natural stabilizer, blended with 10% Loureiro and other varieties; 30 ppm SO2 addition at bottling, unfined/unfiltered; 11.5% ABV

Winemaker: Fernando Paiva & Antonio Sousa

Fernando Paiva and Antonio Sousa are two forward thinking biodynamic producers who were brought together by importer Savio Soares.  Savio saw an opportunity to match-make the two, and fuse Antonio’s French winemaking experience with Fernando’s knowledge of native Portuguese grape varieties. Together they are Bojo do Luar. Both producers are warlocks at heart. Paiva thinks beyond the classic winemaking norms of his region. He was the first producer to get DEMETER certification in Portugal and looks to nature to guide his wines. His experimental nature lead to his signature move of adding ground chestnut flowers to the grapes just before fermentation to naturally stabilize his wines.

The Bojo do Luar parcels are located along the Tâmega river, not far from where the Duoro river empties. Their region is rather ideal for grape growing. They have cool temperatures through Spring, then gentle diurnal shifts from warm days to cool nights through harvest.

Ok, so they had us with the bottle here, between the cute label art and the neon orange-pink color of the juice.  Luckily, that juice itself also delivers, perhaps even overdelivers, for the price.  Incredibly aromatic and zesty, the nose is like a sultry summer garden, with whiffs of orange blossom, gardenia, and tropical fruit, flavors matched on the palate with the addition of tart, zippy hibiscus.  Fun, juicy, organic rosé in a killer package, what more could you want for an under $25 bottle?