Filipa Pato S.L. RA Extra Brut 2022
Filipa Pato S.L. RA Extra Brut 2022 – alternate view 2
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Filipa Pato S.L. RA Extra Brut 2022

Filipa Pato & William Wouters
$85.00

Grape: Baga, Arinto (and native white/red varieties)
Vintage: 2022
Type: Sparkling

Crafted by biodynamic pioneer Filipa Pato and her husband, master sommelier William Wouters, this rare traditional-method sparkling cuvée—S.L. RA (referencing the historic single-vineyard terroirs of São Lourenço and Ribeira de Algueirão in Bairrada)—is an homage to high-tension, long-lees Portuguese sparkling wine. Rooted in pure calcário (calcareous clay and limestone) soils influenced by damp Atlantic maritime currents, the fruit is harvested early by hand to preserve electric acidity. In the cellar, the base wine undergoes a spontaneous, native-yeast primary fermentation in neutral vessels. Following secondary fermentation in bottle, the wine rested on its fine lees for an extended aging period before being disgorged in 2025 with zero makeup and minimal-to-zero dosage.

In the glass, it displays a pale golden-straw hue with an incredibly fine, persistent mousse. The nose is intricate and high-toned, bursting with aromas of crisp green apple, white peach, crushed chalk, sourdough crust, and a subtle, floral hint of dried chamomile and sea spray. On the palate, a "crystalline" line of razor-sharp Atlantic acidity drives through the creamy, brioche-tinged texture imparted by its extended lees contact. Fine, persistent bubbles give the mid-palate a delicate lift, highlighting citrus zest and tart orchard fruits. It concludes with a bone-dry, razor-focused finish that leaves a long, mouthwatering trail of wet limestone, lemon oil, and a salty, oceanic minerality.

 

Winery

Filipa Pato and William Wouters work together in Óis do Bairro, in Portugal’s Bairrada region. Filipa trained as a chemical engineer before gaining winemaking experience in Bordeaux, Mendoza and Margaret River, as well as with her father Luís Pato. William brings the perspective of a Belgian chef, sommelier and restaurateur. Their partnership is rooted in food, travel and the conviction that Bairrada’s own grapes can communicate its vineyards without an imposed cellar style.

They work exclusively with indigenous varieties, including Baga, Bical, Arinto, Cercial and Maria Gomes. Biodynamic practices and close attention to differences in soils and microclimates underpin the farming. In the winery, gentle handling and limited intervention are balanced with careful observation of the wines as they develop. The phrase “without makeup” describes the aim: to reveal the vineyard rather than decorate it. From the approachable Dinâmica wines to more focused bottlings such as Nossa Calcário, the range connects local grapes, individual sites and the couple’s shared belief that wine belongs naturally at the table.