Medium (+) ruby color. Smells like barnyard, mushroom, smoke, blueberry, black cherry, dried fennel, and potpourri. Lighter side of medium bodied, medium acid and finish, with flavors of cherry, lemon, black tea, and minerals. This is restrained and elegant, and feels like it's possibly just on the verge of some more aged tertiary notes, but then again, it's pretty soft and integrated so could also start to slide. 🤷🏼 89-90
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
BeUtiful nose of blue and black fruits, hot stones, charred oak and a bit of spring flowers. Med-full booed, this is rich and rustic with graspy tannin and loads of fruit. Creme de cassis and vanilla oak, this is quite delicious Eother my precious bottle was off or it’s problems have resolved. While this lacks any semblance of elwgance, this is quite a delight to drink (just don’t take a bottle to your mother’s house). 92
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Last of the case and a great way to end it. This is an excellent bottle of wine and if anything has continued to improve slightly. Very balanced, decanted and drank. Even red fruits adn som pencil lead. It may have more time but I doubt that it will further improve. Drink up and enjoy.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Rich, dark fruits, port-like, but dry. Lots of secondary spices and woodsy notes, worth the wait. Enjoyed with tri-tip roast, caramelized fennel toasts, and braised Portuguese kale. Happy New Year!!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
2 hour slow ox and about 1 hour decant, seemed to work perfect. Wine is at peak but no hurry to drink, will last 2-4 years easy. full bodied with a long aftertaste. Classic Qta do Crasto
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This showed too much sweet oak, vanilla and coconut for me. Low in structure and just plain flabby. I hope this is not representative, as I though this was wonderful 9 years ago.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted an hour before dinner, had some difficulties to bring the cork out. On the nose sweet red fruit cocktail with earthy notes, on the palate dry, full bodied, nice bitter note, medium acidity, long finish. Better than my last bottle and less mature, this would go easily for an additional 6 to 10 years, for all that like bold wines, would have been the perfect base for a Vintage Port.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Rustic, with blackberry and cassis mellowed by chocolate, coconut and vanilla. Refreshing acidity persists and tannins smooth and integrated. Still a big wine. Great with burgers or any beef. Will hold up for a few more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This really shows the heat of this region and vintage. Smells much like a dry Port, full of overripe red and black fruits, red flowers and spice. The palate is hollow and while it tastes of overripe fruit, it is not overly sweet. Really missing the mid-palate and low tannin. This is probably best drunk in the near future. 86
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drink now as tannins are desintegrating, it does feel mature, with the fruit showing some port notes (raisins, ripe fruit), but also showing an underlying structure similar to that of Ribera de Duero that makes this wine food friendly.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark ruby color. Still appears to be young. Fantastic nose of earth, chocolate, black cheery and lemon peel. A big wine! So suave and expansive. Really glyceryl. Then the fine tannins come up and keep things in check. Decent acidity. Really delicious! I'm sure that this wine will hold in this place for many years. Super!! A solid 94 points.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is holding up well, and can probably hold a few more years, but not sure if it will get any better. A very nice Douro. Dried white figs, dried cranberries, black pepper on the nose. Tannins well integrated - nothing overt here; very pleasant in the mouth. Full bodied, medium length on the finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
1h decant. nose showed some sweet berries/cherry and maybe cocoa and coffee. love the entry and the mouth feel, so round and subtle. good fruit and tannin on the palate with long finish. still have room for further development. much better version than the ‘06 vintage.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Double decanted two hours before dinner. Has mutated in the last two years to a modern and powerful wine. Stewed fruits (prune and cherry) with a hint of cinnamon and clove, full bodied, medium acidity and long finish. It's a crowd pleaser, drink now or within the next 5 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I haven't had this wine for a while and figured I'd better check in on this one (10 years old now). I had heard some grumbling that the 2009 Douro wines were too ripe and needed drinking. I can certainly say that this wine is more than fine. Beautiful black cherry and earth nose. Really inviting. Full bodied. Really expands in the mouth. Some very fine tannins and very good acidity. It matched very well with my dinner. This is a super Douro! It wasn't that expensive on release and I went a bit wild buying quite a bit. I had regretted it at one point, but I'm happy now. I put the cork back in the bottle and put the bottle in the cellar I forgot about it for several days and then I finally realized that the bottle was open! It was perfectly fine 3 days later. Really, it had changed very little. It looks like this wine will be in a good place for quite a while. Loved this! 93 points
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted ~3 hrs. I've enjoyed more than 12 bottles of this over the years and this has been by far the best bottle. Still youthful, full of tar, a creamy texture developed as it got more air, good tannins and acidity, dark berry fruit and a long finish. Other bottles I've had, from the same case, haven't shown this level of complexity and youthfulness. This bottle was rocking on all cylinders and still showed some upside potential. I've got a 3L of this which I'll leave in the cellar for a while longer and hope it shows as good as this one. 93 Points
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark ruby w no browning at edges. Grapey, alcoholic nose and palate. Very astringent but not drying. Needs a few more years at least, although there is a hint of pruniness that makes me wonder whether it will last.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Still some apparent new oak on the nose for a while upon opening. The wine integrated with air time, but the savor of this wine at a mature stage is a bit more rustic than I would have hoped. Perhaps a touch of brett. I'll see how it is on day two and I have at least two more bottles to follow.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Open immediately after popping the cork. Lots of dark fruit with some violet tones. Smooth and good balance. Very long taste. Very enjoyable but the question is if there is more complexity to come...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
As this was part of a bigger tasting of Portuguese reds, the note is shorter than usual: quite dark, smells of blackberry and a little bit of violets, the alcohol is well integrated, full body, good, ready to drink now
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted an hour before the dinner. Plum and first tertiary notes, good concentration and acidity, medium to long finish. Very good, I would score it higher if there would be not so much heat.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wish I had 6 more of these so I could drink one a year until they're gone. Dry tannic backbone, but velvety on the palate. The fruit is still youthful, primary, and skews to dark cherry and plum, but there's enough room for cocoa dust, tobacco leaf, and some interesting spices. There's probably less acidity than it feels because everything is well harmonized. In its own way, as complimentary to red meat as a well made cab.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
deep purple. chocolate, vanilla, black cherry, plum. med(+) fine-grained tannin. med(+) intensity, med(+) acid, med(+) finish. really nice and still so youthful.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark purple, full bodied Lots of dark fruit, cassis, some vanilla, and burnt oak off the nose Plenty of old world characteristics, earthy, loamy, dusty and dry Black plums and continuation of the nose to the palate.
Great QPR (+1 pt)
Very good value to be found in Portuguese wines.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Sort of an odd, medium violet color. Smells primary and young. Medium bodied and moderately tannic with a lack of acidity. Difficult to describe. This is quite youthful and primary, but seems to lack the stuffing for further development. Hopefully this is simply in an off stage and will continue to develop more complexity with age. That said, for being so lacking in complexity, it really is quite fruity with excellent quality tannin and some at the table really like it. I'd give this another 2-3 years and try again. 88? df 8.7
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
same notes as before but I'll add that it has enough body to continue in the cellar for a good awhile. Long finish. I agree that it is a wine for big foods. Did it with a Rib Eye tonight. I need to get some other vintages.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Three years of cellaring has yielded its potential, my first assessment in 2013 was based on the potential, now it is time to drink. This wine is complex, on the palate it feels like layers after layers, almost as if drinking a dry version of a port, I could feel multiple of the varietals that make up the blend.This is a wine for big foods, it paired nicely with braised short ribs and even with the molten chocolate cake
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
First tasted with Charles Metcalfe at Grand Union Wine Society in March 2014. Notes then: 'Farmyard with good fruit on the nose. Lovely fruit on the palate - complex, rich, sweet. Still young - will age well'. Now: (3h after decanting) Good colour, the 'farmyard' character on the nose 18mo ago is now muted with fruit taking over and hints of caramel, coffee and chocolate as it opened. On the palate - soft dark cherries, plums, and dark berries with spice and mocha coffee. Excellent balance. 6h later: Superb wine to savour slowly on its own, although it handled a sirloin steak beautifully. Very long. I wish I had more of this vintage.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Monthly tasting club LTC 2015-04; Portugal (@ MvdW): In the bouquet a rustic wine with some barnyard, dark forest fruits and caramel. On the palate dark forest fruits as well, some chocolate, beautiful oak and a good balance between acidity and sweetness. Round tannin with a good bite. Beautiful wine in its early maturity stage now. Drink between now and 2019+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Really outstanding wine. Balanced but rich with plum, dark berry and mocha overtones. Long finish with acidity well in check. Should age for quite a while and take on more complexity. Wish I had more.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep and Brooding, expressive nose of dark fruit and vanilla with a touch of graphite and spice. Really tickles the taste buds with ripe plums, vanilla and tar. Great depth and balance. Loved it with chicken paprikash but was nice on its own.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bright dark violet red. Rustic tart cherry and red berry scents with herbaceous notes. Also rustic, simple but delicious red fruit on the palate, with nice acidity and oak that melts on the tongue it's so fine-grained. A pretty reliable wine over the years.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Great wine, jammy, fruity, lovely. Bold to a point - it seemed a touched thin mid palate. Strange for this particular wine. It is usually bold throughout. Oh well, I guess every year can't be stellar!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Solidly made. Notes of vanilla and a bit oaky. Almost California like but not as fruit driven. Some earth. Great balance right now. A crowd pleaser and a surprise for those that know nothing of Portuguese wines.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark purple, full bodied, Hints of hay, wet stone, gravel, aged red meat, cedar Well balanced, soft tannins, dry. Bold but not overbearing. A little chewy
Old world characteristics permeate this wine. Although young, it is drinking wonderfully, and may get marginally better. AMAZING QPR (+1pt)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Offenes, sehr zugängliches Bukett, fleischig mit viel Frucht, Himbeere. Am Gaumen mittelgewichtig, kräftiges, forderndes Tannin, präsente Säure, gute Länge. Braucht noch Zeit!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted and sampled over 3 hours. Served after a 90 min decant, although in retrospect, 30 min might have been enough. Do not skip decanting altogether though because some sediment is beginning to build up. Sweet notes, very christmassy. Ripe and ready though will keep several more years. Good concentration but lacking the depth/complexity to merit a higher score. Still excellent value old vine Douro. Will not hesitate to drink it again, but won't be ordering a whole case. Would be interesting to compare to other vintages side by side. This seems to be a particularly ripe example.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dense, opaque. Black purple in color. Not as heavy on the palate as would appear; creamy texture. Plums, spice and hints of black cherry. Very fruit forward. Not exactly my style but if you like fruit this is your wine. Velvety tannins, medium to light acidity. I think people who generally do not like red wines would like this offering.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is my first venture into my southern iberian neighbors,and this bottle did not disappoint,fruit forward black cherries,strawberry,currant,very soft tannins and a very long finnish. Overall very impressed by this wine,I usually fly to Oporto on my way to Galicia,but next trip I think I will syick around a day or two to tour some of their wineries.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep ruby color. Slightly pronounced nose that includes plum, earth, caramel, black cherry, tobacco, cedar, alcohol. Palate is about the same. While it's fruity, it's somewhat indistinguishable red and black fruit. Rich, full bodied. Medium+ acidity and tannin. High alcohol (tastes hotter than its 14.5% abv). Nice structure, and the tannins are fairly smooth and integrated. It will be interesting to see what this is like in another couple years. Update July 18, 2014: Smoother, rounder than last time. Lots of cherry on the palate, earth on the nose. Still a bit hot, but not bad.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Inviting nose of tart red and black fruits with vanilla and some herbal notes. Well rounded medium body with integrated tannins and enough acidity to keep things fresh. On the palate the fruit tended to be more sweet but not overly stewed. Agree with other notes that alcohol was a bit unbalanced distracting from an otherwise nice finish.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very concentrated and still very primary with ripe fruit (plum, black cherry) and nice chocolate and vanilla notes. Fruit, tannins and acidity are all in check. Powerful yet elegant. The only downside is that the alcohol shines a bit through in the otherwise impressive finish. I have tasted many older vintages of Quinta do Crasto Reserva Old Vines and have found that the wine usually peaks about 6 - 8 years after harvest. While perfectly drinkable now I believe that the 2009 too will acquire more elegance and complexity with 2 - 3 more years in cellar.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decant 2h. Started shining 2 hours later in the glass. Beautiful fruit and very complex. Crushed berries, rosemary, mineral, smoke and stone in both mouth and nose. Kept on changing with time. Still very tannic but the overall impression is elegance and perfect balance. A beuaitful wine that should have a bright future.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Corte de diversas castas do Douro, oriundas de vinhas de mais de 70 anos. 16 meses em carvalho francês e americano. 14,5% abv. Cor púrpura/ rubi concentrado. Nariz ainda meio primário, tendo muita amora, algo de morango, um toque de boa madeira e apenas uma "pitada" de álcool aparente, sendo bem suportados por frescor de acidez e sutis notas minerais, estas, aparentes apenas após uma necessária aeração em decanter por mais de 1h. Na boca é encorpado sem exageros, com madeira mais aparente que ao nariz, sendo isento de qualquer tanicidade secante, tendo fruta densa e licorosa bem balanceada com boa acidez. Moderno, bem dentro da exuberância duriense, mas sem perder a classe e o alto nível. Ainda novo, merece ser guardado por mais alguns anos, pois aparentou ter potencial para adquirir maior complexidade.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Still coming on strong - had enough muscle for almost 2 full nights, but stumbled as the 2nd night wore on. A bit jammier than I recall, but gaining spice complexity from previous notes.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pnp over three nights, on the first night the wine was closed on the nose and on the palate just showing primary fruit notes, on the second night wine was fantastic, it showed complex nose of wood and spices, on the palate blackberry with some earthiness and spiciness, overall a great wine that should benefit from cellaring, if consuming young follow the label instructions and decant for two hours, I wish I did
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very aromatic on the nose, hints of blackberries, cedar, a hint of wood ( delicate ). Complex on the mouth. Very good structure overall. Will try another bottle in a couple of years. Lovely.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I wasn't sure what to expect with a field blend of 25-30 grapes. The wine is medium to dark red in color and had barely stained the cork compared to the Cabs and Syrahs I've been drinking. The nose was full of wonderful aromas: rich red berries, pepper, and more. The flavor was incredibly well integrated, showing off the berries and a nice undertone of vanilla. The only knock was a bit of tartness at times, but overall this was just an excellent wine. Very enjoyable.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Great concentration and complexity. Intense aroma and rich that refers to ripe red fruits, spices, leather and a hint of floral touch. In mouth is complex and harmonious, with good structure and balance.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Another excellent bottle with good potention for future development, but a bit compact and primary at the moment. Solid, plum and black cherry fruit. Dense and packed, but this needs time to acquire elegance and complexity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Excellent and surprisingly wine for what it costs. Dark purple color. Slow legs. Nose of all kinds of red fruits, wood and spicy. Cherry! On the palate is very polished and the tannins are all there, but there is no hard edges at all nor adstringency. Medium/full body. Very pleasing wine, with a long aftertaste. A Douro blend with well known grapes from Portugal like Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, among others. This is definately a very smart buy.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
PNP: slight tanginess which went away after an hour. Nothing to add to other reviews re impressions. I will wait a few more years before opening next bottles.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark ruby red. Nose a bit closed but OK. Dark fruit with a touch of wood - just a touch. Smooth mouth; very modern, fruity, candy like but also quite savoury. Not a tremendous finish really. This has a bit of primary sweetness but with enough acidity to balance. This is well done, but could add a bit of complexity and finish considering where it comes from.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very nice. Black fruits and balanced tannins. Had with several friends and they all enjoyed as well. Seems an easy wine to pair with food. We had ours with manchego and a reserve cheddar; it was fantastic.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Restaurantkøb i Rio de Janeiro. Druesammensætningen er 25+ forskellige druer. Vinen har fået utrolig gode anmeldelser fra RP 93 og WE 94. Farven er kulsort med lidt lilla reflekser. Duften er behagelig med toner af mørke bær, vanille og lidt krydderi. Smagen er koncentreret og mellem- til fyldig i smagen, det er en balanceret vin med dejlige toner af mørke bær, vanille og kryddrier. Det er ikke en frugtpræget vin men der er toner af bær. Mellemlang eftersmag. Havde forventet denne vin var god til kød med side dishes, men syntes faktisk den blev lidt skarp i det til tider. Virkede som om den ikke kunne klare "godt med salt" på en bøf. Dejlig vin men heller ikke mere.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Fantastic fruit and structure. Spicy cherry nose, rich mid palate, long spicy finish. Went great with braised lamb shank. But should not touch remaining bottles for at least 5 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
As many others have commented, the balance that this wine finds is remarkable. Fruit, oak, tannins and acidity are all very cohesive to make this a complex wine. I really liked the overall flavor profile of bright red fruit, licorice and menthol. I do not get the dark, extracted fruit that some other reviewers mentioned. This is a great value!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very young. Decanted for several hours and it blossomed nicely. Dark fruits, stone, flinty, tannins, and acidity now. Should balance wonderfully with more cellar time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Unbelievably good immediately after opening, I was shocked how extracted, yet balanced this wine was. As it opened it just got better and better. Deep dark fruit, forward yet silky tannins, really really good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Looks like blackberry juice. Very deep black fruit nose with some obvious oak. Really chocolate-ty on the palate. Some fine tannins. Long finish. The flavors are classic Douro to me. There is a softer structure than some Crasto VV Reservas. This is still quite young. Drinkable now, but I expect that it will be even more delicious over the next 2-5 years. What really stands out for me is the fruit intensity and the overall balance. Impressive! I should have bought more.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Easily one of the Top 5 most balanced wines I have ever had, really sang next to a roast Mediterranean lamb dinner - shockingly composed even more considering the youthful age. Popped and decanted 1 hour prior to dinner. Rich red fruits with some chocolaty undertones, soft brown spices, hint of licorice liqueur. A little short on the finish, but feel that some time will beef up the backbone. 94/A+ = 50/5/12/9/8/10
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A lovely wine, showing deep black cherry, plums and currants, herbs and a whiff of warm stones. Ample and expansive on the palate with a bit of chocolatey new oak showing which will easily be absorbed with time, given the plump fruit and solid tannins.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very interesting field blend of 30+ varietals. This results in a lot of complexity and taste for the price. Good QPR. Drink now with food through 2017.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
-- tasted a couple pours non-blind at the winery over approx. 30 minutes --
NOSE: very oaky; dill pickle; warm, purple fruits.
BODY: violet color of great depth; medium-full bodied.
TASTE: slightly bitter; oaky; tight; juicy red/purple fruits; seems to lack vivacity; 14.5% alc.. The grapes for this wine are sourced from a 40 ha. plot with an average vine age of 70 years. Was aged in 2nd use barrels – 70% French oak, 30% American oak. Needs time.
From a 375, popped 2 hours before first pour, consumed over 3 hours. Nose: Lots of complexity here - let it sit and sniff and get earthy dark chocolate with hints of cherry and blackberry, give it a good swirl and get big dark floral scents along with blackberry, black raspberry, and licorice. Palate: Medium bodied, but deceptively - like a Middle-Weight boxing champion as it packs a serious punch. gritty chocolate and blackberry flavors up front that carry through the mid-palate where they are joined by a minty-spicy kick that builds through the back-end. Finish: Medium-plus length - starts strong and fades like a classic rock'n roll track.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
1/29/2024 - SonomaCoaster Likes this wine: 94 Points
This bottle was as fantastic. Gobs of raspberry jam and spice, fully integrated tannins, and a long finish. Great with steak.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/13/2022 - studleytrey Likes this wine: 90 Points
Medium (+) ruby color. Smells like barnyard, mushroom, smoke, blueberry, black cherry, dried fennel, and potpourri. Lighter side of medium bodied, medium acid and finish, with flavors of cherry, lemon, black tea, and minerals. This is restrained and elegant, and feels like it's possibly just on the verge of some more aged tertiary notes, but then again, it's pretty soft and integrated so could also start to slide. 🤷🏼 89-90
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/18/2022 - WineGuyX Likes this wine: 92 Points
BeUtiful nose of blue and black fruits, hot stones, charred oak and a bit of spring flowers. Med-full booed, this is rich and rustic with graspy tannin and loads of fruit. Creme de cassis and vanilla oak, this is quite delicious Eother my precious bottle was off or it’s problems have resolved. While this lacks any semblance of elwgance, this is quite a delight to drink (just don’t take a bottle to your mother’s house). 92
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/23/2022 - jdporter3 wrote: 93 Points
Last of the case and a great way to end it. This is an excellent bottle of wine and if anything has continued to improve slightly. Very balanced, decanted and drank. Even red fruits adn som pencil lead. It may have more time but I doubt that it will further improve. Drink up and enjoy.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/1/2022 - SonomaCoaster Likes this wine: 92 Points
Rich, dark fruits, port-like, but dry. Lots of secondary spices and woodsy notes, worth the wait. Enjoyed with tri-tip roast, caramelized fennel toasts, and braised Portuguese kale. Happy New Year!!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/24/2021 - ClausP wrote: 92 Points
2 hour slow ox and about 1 hour decant, seemed to work perfect.
Wine is at peak but no hurry to drink, will last 2-4 years easy.
full bodied with a long aftertaste.
Classic Qta do Crasto
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/11/2021 - mdefreitas wrote:
This showed too much sweet oak, vanilla and coconut for me. Low in structure and just plain flabby. I hope this is not representative, as I though this was wonderful 9 years ago.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/8/2021 - olalar wrote: 89 Points
Abort to tip over. Drink now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/8/2021 - Xfactor wrote:
Drink now
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/27/2021 - olalar wrote: 93 Points
Perfect drinking now. Smooth long and complex. Yet there is freshness remaining. Drink now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/10/2021 - amateur62 wrote:
Decanted an hour before dinner, had some difficulties to bring the cork out. On the nose sweet red fruit cocktail with earthy notes, on the palate dry, full bodied, nice bitter note, medium acidity, long finish. Better than my last bottle and less mature, this would go easily for an additional 6 to 10 years, for all that like bold wines, would have been the perfect base for a Vintage Port.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/9/2021 - Winedoc22 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Rustic, with blackberry and cassis mellowed by chocolate, coconut and vanilla. Refreshing acidity persists and tannins smooth and integrated. Still a big wine. Great with burgers or any beef. Will hold up for a few more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/3/2021 - WineGuyX Does not like this wine: 86 Points
This really shows the heat of this region and vintage. Smells much like a dry Port, full of overripe red and black fruits, red flowers and spice. The palate is hollow and while it tastes of overripe fruit, it is not overly sweet. Really missing the mid-palate and low tannin. This is probably best drunk in the near future. 86
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/2/2021 - Oldworlddrinker wrote: 90 Points
Drink now as tannins are desintegrating, it does feel mature, with the fruit showing some port notes (raisins, ripe fruit), but also showing an underlying structure similar to that of Ribera de Duero that makes this wine food friendly.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/29/2020 - PortFanatic wrote: 94 Points
Dark ruby color. Still appears to be young. Fantastic nose of earth, chocolate, black cheery and lemon peel. A big wine! So suave and expansive. Really glyceryl. Then the fine tannins come up and keep things in check. Decent acidity. Really delicious! I'm sure that this wine will hold in this place for many years. Super!! A solid 94 points.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/27/2020 - SCosgrove Likes this wine: 92 Points
Amazing, mellow, smoky, smooth, great wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/1/2020 - Aris1a Likes this wine: 92 Points
This is holding up well, and can probably hold a few more years, but not sure if it will get any better. A very nice Douro. Dried white figs, dried cranberries, black pepper on the nose. Tannins well integrated - nothing overt here; very pleasant in the mouth. Full bodied, medium length on the finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/16/2020 - PSKC Likes this wine: 92 Points
1h decant. nose showed some sweet berries/cherry and maybe cocoa and coffee. love the entry and the mouth feel, so round and subtle. good fruit and tannin on the palate with long finish. still have room for further development. much better version than the ‘06 vintage.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/11/2020 - theportguy wrote:
The Los Angeles Tasting (Los Angeles, CA): N/R
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/1/2019 - SeaWine wrote:
Don't recall detailed notes. I believe this was decent, though I think I liked it better younger when I had it several years ago.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/16/2019 - Watchster Likes this wine: 92 Points
Concentrated, spicy, medium long finish. Definitely a “food” wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/30/2019 - amateur62 wrote: 90 Points
Double decanted two hours before dinner. Has mutated in the last two years to a modern and powerful wine. Stewed fruits (prune and cherry) with a hint of cinnamon and clove, full bodied, medium acidity and long finish. It's a crowd pleaser, drink now or within the next 5 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/25/2019 - Gustavo Brambila Likes this wine: 88 Points
Much better the second day.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/17/2019 - Rickets Likes this wine: 93 Points
had with filet. WOTN. drinking really well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/12/2019 - PortFanatic wrote: 93 Points
I haven't had this wine for a while and figured I'd better check in on this one (10 years old now). I had heard some grumbling that the 2009 Douro wines were too ripe and needed drinking. I can certainly say that this wine is more than fine. Beautiful black cherry and earth nose. Really inviting. Full bodied. Really expands in the mouth. Some very fine tannins and very good acidity. It matched very well with my dinner. This is a super Douro! It wasn't that expensive on release and I went a bit wild buying quite a bit. I had regretted it at one point, but I'm happy now. I put the cork back in the bottle and put the bottle in the cellar I forgot about it for several days and then I finally realized that the bottle was open! It was perfectly fine 3 days later. Really, it had changed very little. It looks like this wine will be in a good place for quite a while. Loved this! 93 points
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/28/2019 - cofidis2 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted ~3 hrs. I've enjoyed more than 12 bottles of this over the years and this has been by far the best bottle. Still youthful, full of tar, a creamy texture developed as it got more air, good tannins and acidity, dark berry fruit and a long finish. Other bottles I've had, from the same case, haven't shown this level of complexity and youthfulness. This bottle was rocking on all cylinders and still showed some upside potential. I've got a 3L of this which I'll leave in the cellar for a while longer and hope it shows as good as this one.
93 Points
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/20/2019 - rremiker Likes this wine: 92 Points
This was fantastic! It’s been a couple years since I last had a bottle, drinking very nicely. Great value.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/7/2018 - alba_br Likes this wine: 90 Points
Muito bom.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/5/2018 - kronfeld wrote: 88 Points
Dark ruby w no browning at edges. Grapey, alcoholic nose and palate. Very astringent but not drying. Needs a few more years at least, although there is a hint of pruniness that makes me wonder whether it will last.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/11/2018 - jdporter3 Likes this wine:
Still very good and excellent QPR. Certainly has more time in it. Decanted for an hour+ and it needed that.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/5/2018 - wino121 wrote: 92 Points
At or near peak. Excellent.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/13/2018 - hitechnomad Likes this wine: 92 Points
drinking very nicely. strong value at this price point
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/5/2018 - DollarMenunaire wrote:
Still some apparent new oak on the nose for a while upon opening. The wine integrated with air time, but the savor of this wine at a mature stage is a bit more rustic than I would have hoped. Perhaps a touch of brett. I'll see how it is on day two and I have at least two more bottles to follow.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/20/2018 - hitechnomad Likes this wine: 92 Points
Delicious, drinking beautifully. Nicely integrated at this point. Not sure it will usefully age much past than this. Why wait when it’s so good?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/16/2018 - Aparritz Likes this wine: 93 Points
Beautiful. Worth the wait! Still very alive and in its prime.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/12/2018 - olalar wrote: 92 Points
Open immediately after popping the cork. Lots of dark fruit with some violet tones. Smooth and good balance. Very long taste. Very enjoyable but the question is if there is more complexity to come...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/14/2017 - Butzemann wrote: 91 Points
As this was part of a bigger tasting of Portuguese reds, the note is shorter than usual:
quite dark, smells of blackberry and a little bit of violets, the alcohol is well integrated, full body, good, ready to drink now
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/4/2017 - Hargate Likes this wine: 93 Points
Wonderful wine with great depth and personality. Well structured to last even more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/29/2017 - amateur62 wrote: 91 Points
Decanted an hour before the dinner. Plum and first tertiary notes, good concentration and acidity, medium to long finish. Very good, I would score it higher if there would be not so much heat.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/26/2017 - millerarner wrote: 93 Points
Wish I had 6 more of these so I could drink one a year until they're gone. Dry tannic backbone, but velvety on the palate. The fruit is still youthful, primary, and skews to dark cherry and plum, but there's enough room for cocoa dust, tobacco leaf, and some interesting spices. There's probably less acidity than it feels because everything is well harmonized. In its own way, as complimentary to red meat as a well made cab.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/20/2017 - ews3 wrote: 92 Points
deep purple. chocolate, vanilla, black cherry, plum. med(+) fine-grained tannin. med(+) intensity, med(+) acid, med(+) finish. really nice and still so youthful.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/11/2016 - K&J Likes this wine: 93 Points
Seems to have improved over the last couple of years in the bottle. Didn't detect any thinness in the midpalate as before. Very enjoyable wine!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/17/2016 - wino121 wrote: 91 Points
Decanting is a must,
Med-full bodied, restraining nose med palate fruit, nice finish.
Drink/hold 2-4 yrs.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/7/2016 - Genghis88 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Dark purple, full bodied
Lots of dark fruit, cassis, some vanilla, and burnt oak off the nose
Plenty of old world characteristics, earthy, loamy, dusty and dry
Black plums and continuation of the nose to the palate.
Great QPR (+1 pt)
Very good value to be found in Portuguese wines.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/3/2016 - WineGuyX wrote: 88 Points
Sort of an odd, medium violet color. Smells primary and young. Medium bodied and moderately tannic with a lack of acidity. Difficult to describe. This is quite youthful and primary, but seems to lack the stuffing for further development. Hopefully this is simply in an off stage and will continue to develop more complexity with age. That said, for being so lacking in complexity, it really is quite fruity with excellent quality tannin and some at the table really like it. I'd give this another 2-3 years and try again. 88? df 8.7
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/11/2016 - jdporter3 Likes this wine: 92 Points
same notes as before but I'll add that it has enough body to continue in the cellar for a good awhile. Long finish. I agree that it is a wine for big foods. Did it with a Rib Eye tonight. I need to get some other vintages.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/14/2016 - Oldworlddrinker wrote: 92 Points
Three years of cellaring has yielded its potential, my first assessment in 2013 was based on the potential, now it is time to drink. This wine is complex, on the palate it feels like layers after layers, almost as if drinking a dry version of a port, I could feel multiple of the varietals that make up the blend.This is a wine for big foods, it paired nicely with braised short ribs and even with the molten chocolate cake
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/28/2015 - johnrm Likes this wine: 92 Points
First tasted with Charles Metcalfe at Grand Union Wine Society in March 2014. Notes then: 'Farmyard with good fruit on the nose. Lovely fruit on the palate - complex, rich, sweet. Still young - will age well'.
Now: (3h after decanting) Good colour, the 'farmyard' character on the nose 18mo ago is now muted with fruit taking over and hints of caramel, coffee and chocolate as it opened. On the palate - soft dark cherries, plums, and dark berries with spice and mocha coffee. Excellent balance. 6h later: Superb wine to savour slowly on its own, although it handled a sirloin steak beautifully. Very long. I wish I had more of this vintage.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/29/2015 - DiveDVM wrote: 90 Points
The legs are medium. There is no sediment in the bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/27/2015 - jdporter3 Likes this wine:
No need to rerate. Continuing to drink well. Very nice on the second day. Some dried cherry notes.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/8/2015 - FPLopes Likes this wine: 91 Points
Aging well. I hv always given this wine a solid 90. Upgrading it to 91 today. Let's see the next bottles.....
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/4/2015 - Zweder wrote: 89 Points
Monthly tasting club LTC 2015-04; Portugal (@ MvdW): In the bouquet a rustic wine with some barnyard, dark forest fruits and caramel. On the palate dark forest fruits as well, some chocolate, beautiful oak and a good balance between acidity and sweetness. Round tannin with a good bite. Beautiful wine in its early maturity stage now. Drink between now and 2019+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/9/2015 - GlenviewGSW Likes this wine: 94 Points
Really outstanding wine. Balanced but rich with plum, dark berry and mocha overtones. Long finish with acidity well in check. Should age for quite a while and take on more complexity. Wish I had more.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/2/2015 - LEXKYWINE wrote: 93 Points
Deep and Brooding, expressive nose of dark fruit and vanilla with a touch of graphite and spice. Really tickles the taste buds with ripe plums, vanilla and tar. Great depth and balance. Loved it with chicken paprikash but was nice on its own.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/2/2015 - Castle Peak wrote: 92 Points
Nice depth and concentration of flavors. Well balanced layers of blackberry, toasty oak, vanilla and cinnamon. Each sip draws you in for more.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/26/2015 - neilemc Likes this wine: 88 Points
Bright dark violet red. Rustic tart cherry and red berry scents with herbaceous notes. Also rustic, simple but delicious red fruit on the palate, with nice acidity and oak that melts on the tongue it's so fine-grained. A pretty reliable wine over the years.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/7/2015 - fuzzyal42 wrote: 92 Points
Deep red, bold and seductive, hints of vanilla with red berry jam, balanced tannins with a nice long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/22/2014 - K&J Likes this wine: 91 Points
Great wine, jammy, fruity, lovely. Bold to a point - it seemed a touched thin mid palate. Strange for this particular wine. It is usually bold throughout. Oh well, I guess every year can't be stellar!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/12/2014 - jdporter3 wrote: 91 Points
Solidly made. Notes of vanilla and a bit oaky. Almost California like but not as fruit driven. Some earth. Great balance right now. A crowd pleaser and a surprise for those that know nothing of Portuguese wines.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/11/2014 - maaike2 wrote: 91 Points
Lovely. Big seducer. Great intensity, full of black fruit with soft tannines.
P/Q perfect.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/8/2014 - Genghis88 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Poured cool, Vinturi fast decant
Dark purple, full bodied,
Hints of hay, wet stone, gravel, aged red meat, cedar
Well balanced, soft tannins, dry. Bold but not overbearing. A little chewy
Old world characteristics permeate this wine. Although young, it is drinking wonderfully, and may get marginally better. AMAZING QPR (+1pt)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/8/2014 - Kék Frankos wrote: 92 Points
Offenes, sehr zugängliches Bukett, fleischig mit viel Frucht, Himbeere. Am Gaumen mittelgewichtig, kräftiges, forderndes Tannin, präsente Säure, gute Länge. Braucht noch Zeit!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/15/2014 - vintage_whine wrote: flawed
fruit is gone, tastes bitter and burnt. from the structure of tannins and extract, very modern winemaking, extended maceration, lots of oak.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/7/2014 - kcsteve Likes this wine: 90 Points
Consistent with notes in Sept 2014
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/3/2014 - LFCHALA wrote: 88 Points
Balanced. Mineral. Primary aromas of red fruits. Good acidity. However, despite being a good wine, it is a common wine without singularities.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/26/2014 - Richard123 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Still drinking really well...
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/25/2014 - Herschel Krustofski Likes this wine: 90 Points
Decanted and sampled over 3 hours.
Served after a 90 min decant, although in retrospect, 30 min might have been enough. Do not skip decanting altogether though because some sediment is beginning to build up.
Sweet notes, very christmassy. Ripe and ready though will keep several more years.
Good concentration but lacking the depth/complexity to merit a higher score. Still excellent value old vine Douro.
Will not hesitate to drink it again, but won't be ordering a whole case. Would be interesting to compare to other vintages side by side. This seems to be a particularly ripe example.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/2/2014 - kcsteve wrote: 90 Points
Dense, opaque. Black purple in color. Not as heavy on the palate as would appear; creamy texture. Plums, spice and hints of black cherry. Very fruit forward. Not exactly my style but if you like fruit this is your wine. Velvety tannins, medium to light acidity. I think people who generally do not like red wines would like this offering.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/30/2014 - Jobu wrote: 91 Points
Rich plums with nice spice on the finish. Not sure why it was only $20, but I'm not going to ask when I pick up more.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/3/2014 - jperez68 Likes this wine: 94 Points
This is my first venture into my southern iberian neighbors,and this bottle did not disappoint,fruit forward black cherries,strawberry,currant,very soft tannins and a very long finnish. Overall very impressed by this wine,I usually fly to Oporto on my way to Galicia,but next trip I think I will syick around a day or two to tour some of their wineries.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/23/2013 - Cellarseller Likes this wine: 93 Points
Beautiful deep dark color, rich texture. Pleasant chocolate and cassis fruit with an extended finish. Seemed to benefit from decanting.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/5/2013 - budh wrote: 91 Points
Deep ruby color. Slightly pronounced nose that includes plum, earth, caramel, black cherry, tobacco, cedar, alcohol. Palate is about the same. While it's fruity, it's somewhat indistinguishable red and black fruit. Rich, full bodied. Medium+ acidity and tannin. High alcohol (tastes hotter than its 14.5% abv). Nice structure, and the tannins are fairly smooth and integrated. It will be interesting to see what this is like in another couple years. Update July 18, 2014: Smoother, rounder than last time. Lots of cherry on the palate, earth on the nose. Still a bit hot, but not bad.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/8/2013 - jhemming wrote: 90 Points
Inviting nose of tart red and black fruits with vanilla and some herbal notes. Well rounded medium body with integrated tannins and enough acidity to keep things fresh. On the palate the fruit tended to be more sweet but not overly stewed. Agree with other notes that alcohol was a bit unbalanced distracting from an otherwise nice finish.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/2/2013 - Saint-Exupéry Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very concentrated and still very primary with ripe fruit (plum, black cherry) and nice chocolate and vanilla notes. Fruit, tannins and acidity are all in check. Powerful yet elegant. The only downside is that the alcohol shines a bit through in the otherwise impressive finish. I have tasted many older vintages of Quinta do Crasto Reserva Old Vines and have found that the wine usually peaks about 6 - 8 years after harvest. While perfectly drinkable now I believe that the 2009 too will acquire more elegance and complexity with 2 - 3 more years in cellar.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/23/2013 - Crunge Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted one hour and consumed over the next two. My previous notes still stand: very well integrated, complex, and delicious wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/19/2013 - olalar wrote: 94 Points
Decant 2h. Started shining 2 hours later in the glass. Beautiful fruit and very complex. Crushed berries, rosemary, mineral, smoke and stone in both mouth and nose. Kept on changing with time. Still very tannic but the overall impression is elegance and perfect balance. A beuaitful wine that should have a bright future.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/29/2013 - mschede wrote: 90 Points
Corte de diversas castas do Douro, oriundas de vinhas de mais de 70 anos. 16 meses em carvalho francês e americano. 14,5% abv.
Cor púrpura/ rubi concentrado. Nariz ainda meio primário, tendo muita amora, algo de morango, um toque de boa madeira e apenas uma "pitada" de álcool aparente, sendo bem suportados por frescor de acidez e sutis notas minerais, estas, aparentes apenas após uma necessária aeração em decanter por mais de 1h.
Na boca é encorpado sem exageros, com madeira mais aparente que ao nariz, sendo isento de qualquer tanicidade secante, tendo fruta densa e licorosa bem balanceada com boa acidez.
Moderno, bem dentro da exuberância duriense, mas sem perder a classe e o alto nível. Ainda novo, merece ser guardado por mais alguns anos, pois aparentou ter potencial para adquirir maior complexidade.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/2/2013 - Xfactor wrote: 93 Points
Still coming on strong - had enough muscle for almost 2 full nights, but stumbled as the 2nd night wore on. A bit jammier than I recall, but gaining spice complexity from previous notes.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/1/2013 - njgolfer wrote: 91 Points
Tasted over 3 days and this rocked. By Third day, it was so nicley balanced against restrained tannins, alcohol and fruit.
Nice medium red fruits, wood notes, pepper and spicy on the first day.
It can go another 3 - 5 years easily and will only get better over time.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/16/2013 - Oldworlddrinker wrote: 92 Points
Pnp over three nights, on the first night the wine was closed on the nose and on the palate just showing primary fruit notes, on the second night wine was fantastic, it showed complex nose of wood and spices, on the palate blackberry with some earthiness and spiciness, overall a great wine that should benefit from cellaring, if consuming young follow the label instructions and decant for two hours, I wish I did
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/9/2013 - mfreddi Likes this wine: 94 Points
Very aromatic on the nose, hints of blackberries, cedar, a hint of wood ( delicate ). Complex on the mouth. Very good structure overall. Will try another bottle in a couple of years. Lovely.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/4/2013 - Crunge wrote: 92 Points
I wasn't sure what to expect with a field blend of 25-30 grapes. The wine is medium to dark red in color and had barely stained the cork compared to the Cabs and Syrahs I've been drinking. The nose was full of wonderful aromas: rich red berries, pepper, and more. The flavor was incredibly well integrated, showing off the berries and a nice undertone of vanilla. The only knock was a bit of tartness at times, but overall this was just an excellent wine. Very enjoyable.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/1/2013 - alexisrs Likes this wine: 93 Points
Great concentration and complexity. Intense aroma and rich that refers to ripe red fruits, spices, leather and a hint of floral touch. In mouth is complex and harmonious, with good structure and balance.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/23/2012 - mdefreitas Likes this wine: 92 Points
Another excellent bottle with good potention for future development, but a bit compact and primary at the moment. Solid, plum and black cherry fruit. Dense and packed, but this needs time to acquire elegance and complexity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/15/2012 - Flamengo Likes this wine: 94 Points
Excellent and surprisingly wine for what it costs. Dark purple color. Slow legs. Nose of all kinds of red fruits, wood and spicy. Cherry!
On the palate is very polished and the tannins are all there, but there is no hard edges at all nor adstringency. Medium/full body. Very pleasing wine, with a long aftertaste. A Douro blend with well known grapes from Portugal like Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, among others. This is definately a very smart buy.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/28/2012 - kronfeld wrote: 89 Points
PNP: slight tanginess which went away after an hour. Nothing to add to other reviews re impressions. I will wait a few more years before opening next bottles.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/28/2012 - riskun wrote: 90 Points
Dark ruby red. Nose a bit closed but OK. Dark fruit with a touch of wood - just a touch. Smooth mouth; very modern, fruity, candy like but also quite savoury. Not a tremendous finish really. This has a bit of primary sweetness but with enough acidity to balance. This is well done, but could add a bit of complexity and finish considering where it comes from.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/22/2012 - ScubaSommelier wrote: 92 Points
Very nice. Black fruits and balanced tannins. Had with several friends and they all enjoyed as well. Seems an easy wine to pair with food. We had ours with manchego and a reserve cheddar; it was fantastic.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/15/2012 - Engelund wrote: 90 Points
Restaurantkøb i Rio de Janeiro. Druesammensætningen er 25+ forskellige druer. Vinen har fået utrolig gode anmeldelser fra RP 93 og WE 94. Farven er kulsort med lidt lilla reflekser. Duften er behagelig med toner af mørke bær, vanille og lidt krydderi. Smagen er koncentreret og mellem- til fyldig i smagen, det er en balanceret vin med dejlige toner af mørke bær, vanille og kryddrier. Det er ikke en frugtpræget vin men der er toner af bær. Mellemlang eftersmag. Havde forventet denne vin var god til kød med side dishes, men syntes faktisk den blev lidt skarp i det til tider. Virkede som om den ikke kunne klare "godt med salt" på en bøf. Dejlig vin men heller ikke mere.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/14/2012 - juffer Likes this wine: 93 Points
Fantastic fruit and structure. Spicy cherry nose, rich mid palate, long spicy finish. Went great with braised lamb shank. But should not touch remaining bottles for at least 5 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/14/2012 - special juice wrote: 90 Points
As many others have commented, the balance that this wine finds is remarkable. Fruit, oak, tannins and acidity are all very cohesive to make this a complex wine. I really liked the overall flavor profile of bright red fruit, licorice and menthol. I do not get the dark, extracted fruit that some other reviewers mentioned. This is a great value!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/13/2012 - 1964vintage wrote: 91 Points
Very young. Decanted for several hours and it blossomed nicely. Dark fruits, stone, flinty, tannins, and acidity now. Should balance wonderfully with more cellar time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/4/2012 - DanH wrote: 94 Points
Unbelievably good immediately after opening, I was shocked how extracted, yet balanced this wine was. As it opened it just got better and better. Deep dark fruit, forward yet silky tannins, really really good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/19/2012 - PortFanatic wrote: 94 Points
Looks like blackberry juice. Very deep black fruit nose with some obvious oak. Really chocolate-ty on the palate. Some fine tannins. Long finish. The flavors are classic Douro to me. There is a softer structure than some Crasto VV Reservas. This is still quite young. Drinkable now, but I expect that it will be even more delicious over the next 2-5 years. What really stands out for me is the fruit intensity and the overall balance. Impressive! I should have bought more.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/10/2012 - Xfactor wrote: 94 Points
Easily one of the Top 5 most balanced wines I have ever had, really sang next to a roast Mediterranean lamb dinner - shockingly composed even more considering the youthful age. Popped and decanted 1 hour prior to dinner. Rich red fruits with some chocolaty undertones, soft brown spices, hint of licorice liqueur. A little short on the finish, but feel that some time will beef up the backbone. 94/A+ = 50/5/12/9/8/10
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/30/2012 - mdefreitas wrote: 93 Points
A lovely wine, showing deep black cherry, plums and currants, herbs and a whiff of warm stones. Ample and expansive on the palate with a bit of chocolatey new oak showing which will easily be absorbed with time, given the plump fruit and solid tannins.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/24/2012 - Alvinho wrote: 89 Points
Excellent! Too young but great potential as usual on CRASTO products....Great Douro in colors, ascent and flavours. Paired rabbit risotto.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/20/2012 - TannicBeast wrote: 90 Points
Very interesting field blend of 30+ varietals. This results in a lot of complexity and taste for the price. Good QPR. Drink now with food through 2017.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/11/2012 - grafstrb wrote:
-- tasted a couple pours non-blind at the winery over approx. 30 minutes --
NOSE: very oaky; dill pickle; warm, purple fruits.
BODY: violet color of great depth; medium-full bodied.
TASTE: slightly bitter; oaky; tight; juicy red/purple fruits; seems to lack vivacity; 14.5% alc.. The grapes for this wine are sourced from a 40 ha. plot with an average vine age of 70 years. Was aged in 2nd use barrels – 70% French oak, 30% American oak. Needs time.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
1/17/2012 - prasm wrote: 92 Points
From a 375, popped 2 hours before first pour, consumed over 3 hours. Nose: Lots of complexity here - let it sit and sniff and get earthy dark chocolate with hints of cherry and blackberry, give it a good swirl and get big dark floral scents along with blackberry, black raspberry, and licorice. Palate: Medium bodied, but deceptively - like a Middle-Weight boxing champion as it packs a serious punch. gritty chocolate and blackberry flavors up front that carry through the mid-palate where they are joined by a minty-spicy kick that builds through the back-end. Finish: Medium-plus length - starts strong and fades like a classic rock'n roll track.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment