Casa de Saima Tinto, Bairrada
Ref. 0373
This is predominantly Baga (as are all the Saima reds), with a dash of Tinto Pinheira, from vines with an average age of 40. Quite a pungent, herby, savoury nose with a slightly medicinal edge and some caramel notes. The palate shows attractive juicy cherry and raspberry fruit with a very savoury, earthy edge. Tasty stuff and very good wine.
- Colour: Red
- Grapes: Baga
- Vintage: 2009
- Closure: cork
- Alcohol: 13.5%
- Other info: Casa de Saima is located in Sangalhos in the north of the Bairrada region. Here Graça Miranda and her husband Dr Carlos Almeida e Silva tend 18 ha of vines. The red wines are foot trodden and fermented in lagares before ageing in old vats. Bairrada is the region of the smallholder. There are a staggering 4700 registered growers, and the average plot size is a tiny 0.2 ha. Most of these sell their grapes to the cooperatives that dominate the region's production, and make a lot of uninspiring wine. But some estimate of the potential of this region can be gained from the observation that more than two-thirds of the vineyards here are over 50 years old and Casa de Saima is probably the best producer in the region.
- Winery website: www.casadesaima.com
£12.60
or £11.97 when purchasing any 12 mixed bottles.