2022 Duckman - Nerd Duck Red (750ml)

Duckman is the playful alter ego of Mariana Pato, who works in Portugal's Bairrada region as part of the well-known Pato winemaking family, alongside her father Luís Pato and sister Filipa Pato. Adopted in 2018 as homage to a relative born in 1920, the Duckman persona lets Mariana step outside the family's traditional style, wrapping serious, natural winemaking in irreverent, duck-themed labels. The project centers on Bairrada's indigenous grapes, farmed sustainably and vinified with minimal intervention, letting the region's chalky soils and maritime climate show through.

Nerd Duck takes juice from old, sustainably farmed Maria Gomes vines, a white grape, and macerates it briefly with a small portion of skins from Baga, Bairrada's signature red variety, blurring the line between red and rosé. Fermentation happens spontaneously, often in open lagares with no temperature control, before the wine rests in large used casks for around six months. It is bottled without fining or filtration, preserving its natural texture.

The 2022 pours a pale, luminous red with aromas of crushed rock, wild red berries, and rose petal, plus spiced pear, plum, and white flowers on the palate. Light to medium in body, it carries bright acidity and a refreshing mineral finish that keeps each sip lively. Serve it lightly chilled alongside grilled fish, a charcuterie board, or roast pork, and let its unconventional character spark conversation at the table.