Chocapalha Reserva 2008;

Robert Parker, december 2010,
90/100
The 2008 RESERVA is a blend of 50% Touriga Nacional, 40% Tinta Roriz and 10% Syrah. What do you get by paying double the price to upgrade from the Tinto? Well, the first thing you notice here is the aromatics—largely derived from oak at the outset. That’s one thing that might cause some to just stay with the fruity, but purer Tinto. But that’s not all this lovely wine has. With air, the oak slowly integrates; it will take some time before it recedes enough. That said, its elegant, graceful mid-palate and beautiful structure, with a succulent and lingering finish, are things to admire greatly here. It has a lot of finesse. It seems very classy, if a little backward. I really liked the ’07 Reserva. This is its equal—or better. Of the two, this may actually age a little better. It is a little tight and hard edged at the moment. Drink 2012-2021.

Chocapalha Reserva 2007;

Perswijn, februari 2011,
*****
Krachtig en intens, romig en kruidig, lengte en sap, mooie tannines, mooi fruit, lekker, lengte.

Decanter, oktober 2010,
15,5-16,9/20 bronzen medaille,
Ripe, structured and ambitious with confected fruit.

Robert Parker, december 2009
89/100
The 2007 RESERVA red is quite nice in this vintage, well balanced and beautifully constructed. The mid-palate is on the lighter, elegant side. It is a blend of Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz and Syrah, aged for 20 months in 80% new oak. Bright and gripping, it has sweet fruit and oak, and a smooth, velvety texture. Although this will be approachable young, keep your hands off of it for a year or two if you can as the oak will integrate better. The sweet notes are pleasing, but the wine needs to show a little character, too. There were 7,000 bottles produced, along with 100 magnums. Drink now-2019.

Chocapalha Reserva 2006;

Perswijn, februari 2011,
****(*)
Donker en krachtig, indrukwekkend, chocolade, laurier, hout natuurlijk, iets drogende tannines.

Robert Parker, december 2009
86/100
The 2006 RESERVA is the flagship wine, formerly just called “Chocapalha.” It is the best of their 2006, as it should be, considering the price hike. A blend of Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz and Syrah, this spent 19 months in 80% new French oak. It is, like a lot of 2006s, tasty on opening, but lacking some concentration in the mid-palate. Still, it shows well, although licorice and an oaky overlay disguise the fruit flavors. It should be early maturing, although there are ripe tannins that pop out with air. Drink now-2015.

Jancis Robinson, 5 mei 2009
16,5/20
60% Touriga Nacional, 30% Tinta Roriz, 10% Syrah. Aged 18 months in French barriques after lagares fermentation.
Bright, deep crimson. Rich and sweet with easy concentration and appeal though not desperately serious. Drink 2011-15

Decanter juli 2009
****
Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz and Syrah blend. Smooth, oaky, needs time. 2010-2020

Revista de Vinhos, februari 2009
Está com uma bela concentração de cor e muito afinado no aroma, lembrando amoras maduras, nuances florais sem excessos, tudo muito bem enquadrado pela madeira. Bastante polido na boca, bem estruturado, mentolado, com muita especiaria, é um tinto fresco e vibrante, envolvente, bem feito, capaz de alegrar qualquer refeiçã.

Chocapalha Reserva 2005;

International Wine Challenge IWC 2007: Bronze Medal

Decanter juli 2007
***
Blend of 60% Touriga Nacional / 40% Tinta Roriz to produce really good ripe, almost sweet briary fruit, still very oaky, needs time to settle down.

Wine Spectator November 30, 2007
90/100
‘An elegant red from an up-and-coming region. Intense and pure-tasting, with raspberry, red plum and red cherry flavors that are flanked by refined spicy notes. The luscious finish shows licorice and cocoa. Drink now through 2011. 600 cases made.—K.M.’

Chocapalha Reserva 2004;

Jancis Robinson, November 27 2006
‘This is the most unusual but most exciting wine, from a generally rather undistinguished region on the coast of Portugal. The secret again is in the skill of the winemaker, Sandra Tavares, the glamorous winemaker responsible for the renowned reds of Quinta do Vale Dona Maria and her own label Pintas with husband Jorge Borges in port country. Chocapalha represents the crème de la crème of production on her parents wine estate where most of the grapes are still sold off to others.

This Reserve bottling is made up of the best barrels from 2004 and is a blend of 60 per cent Touriga Nacional, Portugal’s most famous indigenous red wine and port grape, with 40 per cent Tinta Roriz, which is the same as the Tempranillo of Rioja in Spain. It was aged for 18 months in mainly new oak and, by its sumptuous texture, succulent fruit, zest and great balance, was treated to all the luxury of a Bordeaux classed growth, château bottled claret.’

The white Chocapalha 2004 is pretty exciting too, and about half the price. Half oak aged and a blend of Chardonnay with the noble local Arinto, it is surprisingly delicate and mineral-scented. You could drink the white now but the red should be at its best between 2007 and 2014.

Chocapalha Reserva 2003;

Perswijn, december 2005
****(*)
Krachtig en stevig, zuidelijke kruiden en zwoelheid, heel diep en intens, vanille, kersen, pruimen, heerlijk fruit, met pittige tannines; even bewaren.

Wine behind the label 2005
*** (a very good even fine wine. In the case of many reds repaying lengthy cellaring)

Vinum, april 2006
16,5/20 (beeindruckend)
Der Wein verheisst eine intensive Aromatik, braught allerdings etwas Luft. Er gewinnt durch vorgängiges Dekantieren. Intensive Noten von reifen roten Beeren, Kräutern und Unterholz. Im Gaumen sehr schöne, elegante textur. Ein Wein mit viel power, ohne grob zu wirken.

Chocapalha Reserva 2001;

Wine Enthusiast, November 2004
91/100 Editors’ Choice
This is a dense, intense wine, a blend of Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz and Alicante Bouchet. It is firmly tannic, but there is plenty of powerful fruit as well. Dark fruit flavors give depth and concentration. This is a fine wine, which will repay several years aging.

AD Magazine, 26 maart 2005
‘ Van touriga nacional, tinta roriz en alicante bouchet, een vermadelijde Franse kruising. Hier is de ouderwetse stijl Portugees nog wel in te herkennen, maar een subtiele vleugje hout en lekker sappig fruit maken alle verschil. Karakteristiek in de hele goede zin van het woord.”

Wine Anorak, Portugal’s leading Wines
92/100
’A blend of Touriga Nacional and Tinta Roriz that spends 15 months in oak, 70% of which is new. Very deep coloured. Appealing nose is spicy and herby with some tarry richness. The palate is quite firm, rich and spicy, still showing quite a bit of spicy oak with good tannic structure. Lovely expressive wine with lots of character. Very good/excellent.’
- Jamie Goodle

Proefschrift, december 2004- januari 2005
8+
”Gemaakt van 45% touriga nacional, 50% tinta roriz en 5% allicante bouchet, 15 maanden rijping op Allier-eiken; veel kleur, prachtige rijpe geur, donker fruit, pruimen en bramen naast florale accenten, gedroogde kruiden en getoast hout, aromatisch, herfstimpressie, smaak komt overeen met geur, goede grip, hout is goed opgenomen, veel materie en opwekkende zuren, maaltijdwijn met veel smaak en lengte, mooie prijs-kwaliteit verhouding.’

Wine Spectator, July 31, 2003
88/100
’Firm and focused, with a heady aroma and lively blueberry and red plum flavours. Notes of meat and spicy on the finish. 330 cases made.”
- Kim Markus

Revista de Vinhos, maart 2004
17/20
‘Concentrado nos aromas, notas balsâmicas de barrica, vivo e cheio de genica. Elegante na boca, taninos um pouco a descoberto, conjunto com boas tonalidades. Correcto mas a precisar de algum descanso para se revelar.’

Revista de Vinhos, december 2001
16,5/20
‘Feito com Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz e Alicante Bouschet, tem aroma de fruto maduro e algumas notas vegetais, a par da ligeira tosta da madeira, num conjunto fino e elegante. O corpo mediano deixa surgir algum tanino miúdo, mas sem ser agressivo, com a boa acidez a dar equilíbrio ao conjunto. Boa harmonia geral.’

Decanter World Wine Awards
’Commended’

NB voor de 2000:
Wine Anorak, Reccomended wines for Oktober 2002
Very good/excellent
Chocopalha is an exciting new arrival on the Portuguese wine scene. Sandra Tavares is the winemaker at Quinta do Vale D. Maria in the Douro, but she also makes this wine from a property owned by her parents in Estremadura. Mainly Touriga Nacional, It has a very forward vivid spicy nose with a big blast of herby fruit and meaty, almost animal undertones. The palate shows juicy, herby meaty character with a pepper spice edge. Drinking well now, this is a full-on, enjoyable wine.
- Jamie Goodle