Really like this.

It’s a Portuguese red wine from the Bairrada region, made by one of the top producers in this area, Casa de Saima. Now they’re known as traditionalists – defenders of the Baga grape, which is what the region’s top reds are made from. This, however, is quite a modern-styled wine, with some Merlot and Touriga Nacional blended in.

But it’s not ‘bad modern’. While there’s lovely ripe fruit, there’s also a more serious edge to this wine. It was foot-trodden and fermented in lagares with indigenous yeasts, before being aged in large, old oak: so it’s pretty natural. I really like it, and especially at the price I paid for it (IIRC £8.50 from The Wine Society; alas they no longer have any).

Casa de Saima Colheita 2008 Beiras, Portugal
13.5% alcohol. Baga with some Touriga Nacional and Merlot. Very fruit driven. Fine, intense, spicy berry fruits nose with some attractive gravelly savoury notes. The palate is savoury and spicy with some tannic grip and sweet berry and cherry fruits. Fresh and  vibrant with a hint of mintiness. Straddles the modern and traditional divide very well. 91/100 (£9.99 Fareham Wine Cellar; UK agent Raymond Reynolds)

Find this wine with wine-searcher.com