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WINES OF PORTUGAL
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Quinta de Chocapalha
| Keen-Ta Deh Show-Cah-Pahl-ya |
VR Lisboa, Portugal
Quinta de Chocapalha, a stunning wine estate owned and operated by the Tavares da Silva family, is
nestled between the sun-bathed hills surrounding Alenquer, just northwest of Lisbon. Originally acquired
in the 1980s, the one hundred and ten acres of nearly abandoned vineyards discovered on the estate
dated back to the sixteenth century; the family immediately embarked on an investment program to
replant and regraft the vines with the thriving varietals of the area, both indigenous and international. In
2000, the new plantings had reached optimal maturity when Sandra Tavares, their youngest daughter,
made her first debut as a winemaker, passionate and eager to produce wine with only the best grapes
found on the estate. Drawing from traditional and modern winemaking influences, Quinta de Chocapalha
vinifies in traditional lagares yet employs the use of mechanical treaders during fermentation; this fine-
tuned winemaking philosophy shines through in the wines, which boast both traditional minerality and
elegance, while remaining fresh and fruit-forward in essence.
Quinta de Chocapalha Arinto
A pure expression of Arinto sourced from 23-year-old vineyards on the Chocapalha estate, this refreshing
white is vinified in stainless steel vats and aged for six months on the lees before bottling. Bright lemon-
yellow in color with a freshly aromatic nose of citrus and tropical fruits, Quinta de Chocapalha Arinto
boasts lively acidity and a lingering finish.
2014:
Best Buy WE |
2011:
90 WA
Quinta de Chocapalha Branco
Quinta de Chocapalha Branco is a blend of indigenous Portuguese varietals sourced from sixteenth-
century vineyards twenty-eight miles northwest of Lisbon. Intensely bright, Quinta de Chocapalha Branco
is fermented in stainless steel and stays in contact with the lees for six months. Fresh citric, floral and
tropical notes radiate on the nose, while the palate displays great balance and enticing acidity.
Quinta de Chocapalha Castelão
Castelão, one of Portugal’s most famed and widely planted varieties, is known for its beautiful fruit
character. Quinta de Chocapalha’s interpretation of this varietal is a stunning example. Fermented in
stainless steel and aged in French oak for twelve months, this Castelão retains its fresh fruit essence long
after its six months of refinement in-bottle.
2013:
Best Buy WE