History: The history of Tapada do Chaves dates back to the beginning of the 20th century, when the Chaves family planted the first vines on their small estate on the slopes of the Serra de São Mamede, initiating a relationship of passion and dedication to the land. Located in the parish of Frangoneiro, near Portalegre, Tapada do Chaves has over a century of existence and has played a prominent role in the creation of the demarcated region in Alentejo with its protected designation of origin wines. Tapada do Chaves contains two of the oldest vineyard plots in Alentejo still in production, with records dating back to 1901 for red vines and 1903 for white vines. With 60 hectares of land and 32 hectares of viticultural heritage, the estate is situated on a granite massif at a generous altitude, in an area strongly influenced by the orography and agroforestry cover, in a microclimate crucial to the quality and typicity of the wines produced there. It is a unique place due to its heritage and potential.
Grape Varieties: Field blend, featuring Arinto, Malvasia Fina, Fernão Pires, Tamarez and Roupeiro.
Soil Type: Granitic
Vineyards: Old vineyard (1903)
Tasting Notes: Straw green color. High aromatic complexity, citrus fruits, orange blossom, dried herbs, flint, dried fruits. Very balanced and intense, with extraordinary complexity and expression of fruit, with firm acidity. Long and very persistent finish, ending fruity, with great elegance and character.
Harvest: The year 2022 was one of the hottest and driest ever recorded in Western Europe. In Portugal, severe drought between May and August, contrasting with intense rain during the harvest season, presented enormous challenges for viticulture. The winter was balanced, with low rainfall, and mild temperatures in the spring allowed for rapid vine development. The summer was extreme, with several heat waves in August, generating a significant impact on vineyards throughout the Alentejo region. It was a year of meticulous attention and patience in the vineyard, with difficult ripening, smaller berries, and considerable heterogeneity. The outlook at the end of the harvest was surprising, with a highly expressive progression of ripening, where the older Alentejo vines demonstrated their unparalleled adaptation and resilience.
Winemaking: Hand-harvested from the century-old vineyard planted in Tapada in 1903. Manual selection of the grapes, followed by pressing in whole bunches, without destemming. Classic must clarification, by gravity at low temperature. Fermentation in stainless steel tanks and French oak barrels, using neutral yeasts, seeking to demonstrate as much as possible the typicity and expression of the terroir.
Ageing: For 6 months in stainless steel tanks and in French oak barrels, with batonnage. In bottle for 24 months.
Recommended consumption date: 2024 to 2035
Serving temperature: 14ºC
Oenology: Pedro Baptista | Duarte Lopes
