Quinta do Crasto
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three reviews
With its natural stategic command of the river both up and down stream,
it is not difficult to imagine this as the site of a Roman fort - for
'Crasto' is a corruption, it is said, of the Latin 'castrum', and the
remains of a Roman road can still be seen at no great distance from
the quinta.
Quinta do Crasto
Vintage Port 1994
This delicious Vintage Port was produced from grapes of the oldest
vines from the Quinta with an average age of between 40 to 60 years
old. The grapes were foot trodden for two days in the old largares
with 50% stems at a temperature of 20 degrees Celius before a 48 hour fermentation
with natural wild yeasts at a temperature of 28 degrees Celius. When the sugar level
reached 8.5oBaumé, brandy was added to stop the fermentation.
The wines were aged in old wooden and stainless steel vats at
the Quinta in the Douro. A careful selection of 11,000 L in
March led to bottling of only 1,200 cases in July 1996.
It is intensely aromatic with matured, rich red berry fruit flavours
so characteristic of Crasto Ports., with a perfect balance between
the soft tannins, sweetness and acidity reflecting the traditional
vinification system, great depth and a very long finish.
Wine Spectator - 93 points
CSPC +446542
Quinta do Crasto
Late Bottled Vintage Port 1990
Following its philosophy of only bottling wines under its own label
from the best grapes of the Quinta in exceptional years; the LBV
1990 was produced from hand picked grapes of the Quinta’s 40 to 60
year old vines. The natural yeast fermentation of a traditional foot
trodden must was stopped using the estate’s own brandy.
This wine shows an intense, concentrated vinous aroma with plummy fruit.
The palate is firm and well structured, showing good fruit depth. The
finish is long, dry and elegant. It only gets better and better in the
bottle.
CSPC +454173
Quinta do Crasto
Douro Tinto 1995 Reserva
Quinta do Crasto Reserva 1995 was made from mixed varietal plantings
of 30 year old vines on the Quinta’s Douro estate. It is an intense
and complex wine resulting from the varietal mix, old vines, and 12
months ageing in French oak pipes.
It is well structured with firm, rich and concentrated fruit flavours
on the palate, fine textured tannins, well integrated oak, and has a
soft finish with a long aftertaste.
Bottled November 1996, Crasto Reserva 95 will repay cellaring over
the next 10 years.
CSPC +425565
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