Mira do Ó: beautiful terroir-focused wines from Dão, Bairrada and the Alentejo
Website: https://miradoovinhos.com/
Nuno Mira do Ó is the dude behind Mira do Ó Vinhos, and he now has three projects. There’s his own wines that go under his name, and then two partnerships. One is with Joana Santiago in Vinho Verde called SOU (Quinta de Santiago & Mira do Ó), and the other is with João Soares in Bairrada, called V Puro.
Nuno began making wines in 2001 for other people, and then in 2009 began his own project in Bairrada in collaboration with winemaker João Soares, which is known as th V Puro project. He then added a second region, Dão, in 2012, collaborating with João Corrêa: this is under the label Druida. Mira do Ó is also used for Dão wines, and a few year later he added Bucelas. The SOU project with Joana Santiago began in 2018.
Winemaking is hands off, with natural setting and wild fermentation.
THE WINES
Druida Branco 2022 Dão, Portugal
Single parcel of Encruzado on blue granite with clay on top. Vinified in cement tanks. Linear and bright with lovely citrus fruit. Stony and detailed with lemon, pear and hints of pith, as well as nice citrus focus. Very fine. 94/100
Druida Encruzado Reserva 2022 Dão, Portugal
This was the first wine Nuno made in the Dão back in 2012, and it’s a site at 500 m near Visieu. Barrel fermented. Lively and bright, fresh and stony. Nice acid line with subtle nut and aniseed on the finish. 94/100
Grande Druida Branco 2021 Dão, Portugal
This is a single plot with more clay on top of the granite. Bright, fresh and linear with lots of minerality and keen acidity. There’s a hint of apple, some lime, and also some pear. Nice weight and freshness. 94/100
Mira do Ó Caminhante 2022 Dão, Portugal
This is a blanc de Noir from Baga. Just a hint of colour. Lovely weight with some cherry and aniseed notes as well as lemony fruit. Open and fruity; slightly spicy with real focus to the fruit. 93/100
Doravante Bairrada Blanco 2022 Portugal
From clay/limestone soils near Melhado, this is mainly Bical, 80 in large and small oak and 20% in steel. Mineral, bright, fresh and lemony with lovely chalky texture and a twist of mint. Such focus and purity. 94/100
Aliós Branco de Outrora 2021 Bairrada, Portugal
This is mostly Bical, and old vines. Textured, fresh, layered and complex with lemony fruit and some subtle nuttiness. Stony and fine with a lovely purity and a waxy/almond side to it. 92/100
Teima Branco 2021 Alentejo, Portugal
This is from an old vineyard in Portalegre at 600-700 m, and the soils are transitioning between granite and schist. Field blend. Very fine, fresh and mineral with subtle wax, pear and some lime. Layered and nicely complex with a stony edge. 94/100
Teima Tinto 2021 Alentejo, Portugal
From vineyards at 500-600 m. The main varieties are Castelão and Grand Noir, and quite a bit of whole bunch fermentation is used. Fresh, supple and bright with pure cherry fruit and nice freshness. Expressive and pure. 93/100
Druida Tinto 2020 Dão, Portugal
From three plots. Jaen (100% whole bunch), Alfrocheiro (50% whole bunch) and Touriga Nacional (destemmed). Fine and expressive with lovely purity, showing beautiful red fruit quality with a touch of liquorice and crushed rock. Very fine and pure with good acidity and a bit of crunch. 94/100
Puro Aliós Tinto Elegáncia de Outrora 2021 Bairrada, Portugal
From a centenarian vineyard of Baga. Bright, linear, tart and focused with pure red cherry and cranberry fruit, backed up by fine structure. There’s good acidity here. Tart and very fine, a beautiful expression of Baga. 95/100
Puro Aliós Ourtrora Baga Clássico 2018 Bairrada, Portugal
Structured and refined, and quite classic in style with firm tannins and notes of liquorice and iodine, as well as cherry and berry fruit. Real precision here and this will probably age for ever. 95/100
