Tapada do Chaves DOC Portalegre Vinhas Velhas Tinto 2017 (Case 3 x 75cl)
Case price equivalent to £116 per bottle
Tapada do Chaves DOC Portalegre Vinhas Velhas Tinto
Region: Portalegre, Alentejo, Portugal
Vintage: 2017
Bottle size: 3 x 75cl
Grape: Trincadeira and Grand Noir
ABV: 15%
Deep ruby color. Strikingly complex aroma, rustic and almost austere, very direct in its expression of ripe black fruit in compote, with a strong vegetal presence. Notes of rockrose, earth, tobacco, and wax emerge, alongside balsamic nuances and leather. On the palate, it is highly concentrated, with a well-structured base and firm, well-integrated tannins. The acidity is remarkably balanced, leading to a long, dense, and highly expressive and fruit driven finish.
Manual harvest in 20kg boxes, with grapes coming from old vines planted on the estate in 1901. Manual selection of the grapes, followed by total destemming and cold press for 5 days. Natural fermentation with native yeast in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks. Post fermentation maceration for 15 days before aging in barrels where spontaneous malolactic fermentation took place. 18 months in used 500-liter Portuguese oak and 225-liter French oak barrels, then in the bottle for 36 months before release
Nestled in Frangoneiro, on the outskirts of Portalegre in the north of the Alentejo, the Tapada do Chaves estate has been producing renowned wines for nearly a century. Founded in the early 20th century, Tapada do Chaves boasts two of the oldest working vineyards in the Alentejo region, dating back to 1901 and 1903. In 2017, the Eugénio de Almeida Foundation acquired Tapada do Chaves with the goal of revitalising the estate’s wines and restoring their past fame and the authentic charm of the wines. The recent relaunch introduces a classic yet contemporary image for the wines, reflecting their Alentejo heritage. The carefully designed labels complement the boutique nature of these classic wines, reaffirming Tapada do Chaves as a timeless symbol of Alentejo’s winemaking tradition.
https://www.tapadadochaves.pt