The 2008 PINOT NOIR was oak aged for 14 months. Fairly light in color, this is tightly wound on the palate with well integrated tannins and fairly high acidity. There is little evidence of oaky flavor, but the grape characteristics are not as yet fully evolved; it takes a good 60-90 minutes before the fruit starts to assert itself. A slight earthy note pops up with time, too. If it does not always seem like the most classic Pinot Noir, once past that, it is elegant, tasty and most, I suspect, will find it surprisingly good. It grew on me with some air. There were 540 cases produced. Drink now-2017. Campolargo is an interesting winery in Bairrada that presents a less traditional face with its various small production bottlings. Manuel Campolargo makes things that are a bit different than the usual fare—Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Bordeaux blends, unusual monovarietals and the like. Modern Bairrada isn’t just about Baga—although they make one of those, too. The wines often provide some nice value, as evidenced by some of the offerings this issue, and the off-the-beaten-track wines often hit the mark.Importer: Tri-Vin Imports, Mt. Vernon, NY; tel. (914) 664-3155