Terra Do Rio 'Tinta Barroca' 2019 (RRP $30 WM $23.90)

Tinta Barroca is a commonly planted Portuguese red grape variety and is one of the five officially recommended varieties used to make port. It is rarely made into a single varietal wine. It is a large berry and bunched variety, but its loose clusters avoid issues with bunch rots.

The 2019 Terra do Rio Tinta Barroca grows in red loam soil that covers a layer of calcareous rock. The vineyard is hand pruned and hand harvested. All the grapes are picked into half tonne picking bins and chilled for 24 hrs before crushing.

This wine has been fermented via indigenous yeast (wild ferment) in old French oak. The use of animal by-products has been forbidden throughout the winemaking process, so this wine is vegan friendly.

The flavours of this wine are unique! Blueberries, mint and plums. The palate is juicy with soft tannins. The relatively low alcohol (11%) adds another level of interest and complexity to this wine.

Harvested in March 2019 and bottled in August the same year.