Locals and Nomads, a natural wine bar in Lisbon
Website: https://localsandnomads.com/
Locals and Nomads is a small naturally focused wine bar in Lisbon. I had a gap in my schedule when I was last there so I headed over to check it out.
They reckon 80% of their customers are non wine geeks, while 20% are geeks who know a bit about wine and what they are looking for. They cater for both.
As well as a great range of wines, with many natural bottles from outside Portugal, Locals and Nomads also offers some small plates.
These are the wines I tried:
Canada dos Ladroes Verdelho 2023 Pico, Açores
This is mineral and crystalline with lovely chiselled citrus fruit and a beautifully persistent acid line. It’s not just about fruit. There’s this beautiful focus and tapering finish – long and expressive. 94/100
Ciclo Tinto 2024 Portugal
This is Aragonez from the Alentejo, aged in talha. Made by Hugo and Joana Campos. Full deep colour. Juicy, bright, vivid black cherry fruit with good acidity. Really fresh and delicious served chilled. Crunchy and a bit tart with a bit of grip on the finish, and also some Loire-like chalky notes. Very stylish and drinkable. 92/100
Um Tintinho NV Alentejo, Portugal
13% alcohol. This is a classic Alentejo blend made by Antonio Macanita and Gio Chezia, and it’s half from 2023 and half from 2024. This is cherry red in colour and it’s supple and fresh with bright red cherries and cranberries as well as good acidity. Nice sour cherry and citrus peel finish. Utter pleasure in this wine. 93/100
Rabi Branco 2021 Douro (magnum)
This is made by Luís Pedro of Quinta da Carolina (and winemaker at Niepoort). It’s 100% Rabigato. Bright, focused and crystalline with lovely compact citrus fruit backed by good acidity. There’s plenty of flavour here despite the low alcohol. Supple and really stylish with purity and harmony. Has some stony, mineral character, too. There’s a hint of pithiness. Beautifully expressive. 94/100
