Text João Pedro de Carvalho

The Quinta da Boavista, belongs to the family Tavares de Pina, where they produce the wines Terras de Tavares and Torre de Tavares. It is situated in the Demarcated Region of Dão, Penalva do Castelo between the Terras de Penalva and the Terras de Tavares, at an altitude of approximately 450m.

The Quinta da Boavista dates from the late 18th century and had the vineyard as their main activity. Today they breed horses (Lusitano), but also the famous Serra da Estrela cheese is produced there. The approximately 7ha of vineyard in soils of transition schist-granite of great depth and high clay content give the wines very special characteristics.

The grapes that were previously sold to the local Cooperative, originated in 1997 the first Terra de Tavares, considered today as one of the best wines from this producer. Only in 2005 did they begin to be vinified in Quinta da Boavista. Before that they only blended all the production that afterwards was made at Quinta da Murqueira.

At Quinta da Boavista, João Tavares de Pina a long-time friend and a passionate producer of the region, with all the irreverence that characterizes him, is creating the tastiest wines full of identity, with a strong connection with the land, mirrors of each harvest that are only released to the market when he considers them to be suitable for consumption.

He doesn’t look for easy satisfaction, the wines are made in his image, with a very well integrated wood, prolonged stages in the bottle. All of his wines are very gastronomic and lovers of a good conversation, clearly marked by the soul of the region in avery own imprint that João is intended to improve harvest after harvest.

In conversation we learn that João has a very special affection for Jaen, which he considers to be of enormous potential, adding also the Tinta Pinheira and Touriga Nacional. João soureced in Quinta da Lomba (Gouveia) the grapes used to produce his white wines based on Encruzado, Cerceal and Síria. However, the vines were sold so we will have to wait perhaps until 2015 for a new Torre de Tavares white.

On a recent visit to the Quinta da Boavista, I took the opportunity to enjoy the fantastic winetourism and the excellent regional cuisine that João Tavares de Pina prepares to accompany his wines. I regret not having taken my swim trunks to take a dip in the fantastic pool. Maybe another time.

Starting with the whites, still available on the market:

Torre de Tavares Síria 2009 (Regional Beiras)
The aroma shows notes of very good evolution, medium intensity, flowers, fruit (mandarin, green apple) with a lot of frills and minerality background. Mouth with cohesive structure, very tasty with notes of ripe fruit with a fresh and very mineral finish.

Torre de Tavares Encruzado 2008 (DOC Dão)
Encruzado that was not filtered, shows evolved aroma with complexity, full of details, ripe fruit, yellow flowers with grapefruit and quince, straw, feeling of greasiness with good minerality. Mouth with fruit in syrup, freshness with a hint of minerality in the backdrop.

In the red wines the highlights go to:

Rufia 2012  (DOC Dão)
The Rufia (Thug) was born during the 2009 harvest as a 100% Rufete (Tinta Pinheira), now in the new edition is joined with Touriga Nacional and Jaen. The result is a cheeky and fragrant wine, little consensus due to the herbaceous component (tomato foliage) that is in evidence, although the fruit is present with very good quality and is almost chewable.

Torre de Tavares Jaen 2008 (DOC Dão)
Will go on sale in the coming months, very new but full of charm, so characteristic of the Dão region. In spite of the six years that it already has, it is clean and fresh, full of energy, with a lot of forest fruit, balsamic, pine, cocoa, wood very well integrated with freshness throughout the taste. An explosion of flavor on the palate, freshness with tannins ask for food to be close by with a long and persistent finish. Beautiful Jaen.

Terras de Tavares Jaen 2007 (DOC Dão)
A wine that awakens a smile, very clean and rich in aromas, cohesive and engaging to show the great that it wine is. Aromas characteristic of the Dão region, pine, berries, much freshness always present, cocoa, mineral in the background. Mouth to match, great support structure, very good freshness with the juicy fruit presence, firm tannins with a long spicy finish.

Terras de Tavares Touriga Nacional 2008 (DOC Dão)
A Touriga Nacional more contained and delicate, clean aroma, seductive and fresh, lavender, pine, more herbaceous with ripe fruit well integrated. Mouth well structured to show fruit (cherry) well integrated with wood, balsamic and mineral in the background with tannins still unpolished. Long and persistent finish.

Terras de Tavares 2006 (DOC Dão)
A blend of Touriga Nacional/Jaen with a 3 years stage in cask and later maturing in the bottle. The wine is still very new, full of force and asking for some more time, floral with black fruit, minerality in the background. In the mouth a lot of strength, tannins present, fat fruit, freshness, earthy with a grand final.

Terras de Tavares Reserva 1997 (DOC Dão)
A blend of Jaen/Touriga Nacional with the first dominating to the second, complex and delicate, clean and fragrant, resin, floral, cocoa, gluttonous red fruit (blueberry, cherry) with an earthy and spicy touch. In the mouth it is smooth but firm, long, tamed tannins, very elegant with signs of a classic Dão, it needs time in the glass. Long and persistent finish in a wine which extols its region.

Contacts
Quinta da Boavista – Castelo de Penalva
3550-058 Penalva do Castelo, Portugal
Tel (+351) 91 985 83 40 (João Tavares de Pina)
Email: jtp@quintadaboavista.eu
Site: www.quintadaboavista.eu