Welcome to our second post in our series on the wines of Portugal. If you want to start at the beginning, head over to Dão, and then click through to the right. Today we’ll be digging into Beira.
Beira
To the west of Dão lies a region known as Bairrada (which we will not be covering sadly), which is known for great red wines made from a local grape called Baga. Much like the wines of Dão, these wines are going through a renaissance, and there are great values to be had, but what if you don’t fall into one of these regions?
Enter Beira, a region spanning much of the northern half of Portugal, and stopping south of the Douro (this is where Porto comes from). The wines in this region aren’t quite as refined as their neighbors in Dão or Bairrada, but there are great values to be potentially had in Beira as general wine making in Portugal improves. With less recognition, this can help bargain hunters as well. Bare in mind, many times you get what you pay for.
Quick Summary on Beira:
- Known for: Bargain hunting cheaper copies of juicy, fruity red wines found in Bairrada & Dão
- Best Wine Style: N/A
- Best Varietals: Area is deregulated, and many grapes are grown as a result.
- Notable Producers: N/A
Terra Boa Vinho Tinto
As mentioned, Beira is a bit of a hodgepodge, so with an anything goes mentality, the wine can be all over the place. At less $5, Terra Boa Vinho Tinto is in impulse buy territory, but is it decent wine from such a scattered region?
Sight: A pretty ruby core with slightly watery edges.
Smell: Blackberry and clove start off, with a whiff of heat. There are touches of dust, espresso, chocolate, and ripe red plums. Little hints of vanilla.
Sip: The body is bright, if slightly thin, with touches of earthiness that lead off. There are building blackberries, red currant, and red plum skins, with a soft mouth feel. The notes of spice and wood get involved.
Savor: The ending is aggressively tannic, but has good red plum and spice notes. Flavors blend into a sort of red fruit abyss.
Terra Boa Vinho Tinto is a perfectly serviceable red at a great price. The fruit and wood both have good amount of play time, if at odds with one another at times. The flavors are all very nice, if they never quite build beyond a simple, quaffable red. At $5, Terra Boa Vinho Tinto is a wonderful deal for serving any time.
Verdict: Blackberry, Red Fruit, Oak, Spice
Rating: 74
Price: $5
Beira, Portugal