Vineyards and winemaking
Quinta do Gradil lies at the foot of the Serra de Montejunto near Cadaval, where broad, sunny slopes and well-drained clay soils include patches of sand. The nearby Atlantic supplies cooling influence and natural acidity, an important counterweight to the ripeness of this 60% Arinto and 40% Chardonnay blend.
For the 2017 Reserva, 40% of the blend fermented and matured for seven months in a combination of new and used French oak barrels. The remaining 60% fermented for 14 days in stainless steel, bringing together Chardonnay’s breadth and barrel affinity with Arinto’s citrus drive.
Tasting notes
Appearance
Golden yellow with a subtle green-gold glint.
Nose
Apricot, tangerine and lemon curd are layered with toasted nuts, gentle smoke and a mature beeswax note.
Palate
Full and creamy, with ripe stone fruit and citrus held in balance by lively acidity. Oak brings a savoury, lightly toasted frame, while Arinto extends the finish with freshness and a faintly bitter almond note. Mature bottles can vary; serve cool, open carefully and allow the wine to broaden in the glass.
Food pairing
Serve with roast chicken and bread sauce, grilled monkfish, cauliflower cheese or smoked haddock with a poached egg. Its combination of richness and acidity also suits a mature goat’s cheese.
Background story
Quinta do Gradil is one of the historic wine estates of the Lisboa region. Records from the eighteenth century attest to the importance of viticulture on these lands, whose position between the Montejunto hills and the Atlantic has long favoured balanced wines.
Reserva Branco deliberately pairs an international variety with a Portuguese one. Chardonnay contributes body and orchard fruit, while Arinto supplies the bright acidity and citrus character that allow the 2017 to retain poise through bottle development.
