Tag Archives: Douro

Quinta do Crasto Superior 2016, Douro, Portugal

06 Wednesday Apr 2022

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I am a fan of Portuguese reds- I find them to offer high value for the money.  This Superior from the Douro is a blend of 50% Touriga Nacional, 25% Touriga Franca, 20%  Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo) and 5% Sousao.  It is deep ruby with medium intensity aromas of stewed plums (prunes), green pepper, white pepper, dried blackberry, dried sage and a nuttiness.  I felt the wine is still developing.  On the palate it is dry with medium (+) tannins, medium acidity, medium alcohol and medium body.  The medium intensity flavors of prunes, dried sage and blackberry coupled with the nutty component led to a short finish.  I was underwhelmed by this ‘acceptable’ wine that should be drunk now, with no further aging.  It runs $24 locally and gets a mere 86 points from me making it a 2 star effort.

PS. tasting from a second bottle revealed the possibility that this wine was corked and the scores and reviews were deflated from the performance expected of this wine that scored highly with the pros.

Salut….

Quinta da Foz Reserva 2017, Douro, Portugal

12 Saturday Mar 2022

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I really enjoy Portuguese wines, from the sweet dessert Ports to the crisp white Alvarinos to the beautifully meshed red blends of the Douro.  Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca and Tinta Roriz (aka Tempranillo) make up this wine that is a deep ruby in the glass.  The nose is awesome- black plum, blackberry, currants, charred wood, black cherry, licorice, vanilla and coconut.  The palate is delicious, tart with juicy acidity and dry.  The tannins are quite evident but they caress rather than attack the gums.  The astringency hits a bit later on the mid palate.  Pronounced flavors of black fruit, oak and licorice swirl across the palate and end up in a long finish that is quite tannic at this stage and definitely amazing.  Full bodied, this is a wine meant for the long haul and will pair nicely with my Beef Kebabs- spiced with a dry rub and served with salad.  93 points for this $30 wine makes it a 5 star effort to drink till 2030.  Salut….

Cockburn’s Late Bottled Vintage Port 2015, Portugal

08 Tuesday Mar 2022

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A deep shade of purple in the glass this opaque Port has got a pretty intense nose.  Aromas of cooked plum, stewed blackberry, raisins, mixed nuts and a fresh grape note- interesting.  The palate is lush with stewed black fruit, currant extract, a nutty component and that zingy fresh grape note I got on the nose.  The wine packs some heat- I can. feel the burn just ever so much.  Very smooth and integrated tannins balance out the medium (-) acidity.  The wine is obviously considered full-bodied- it simply coats the mouth with dark fruit lashings with a dryness from the structural tannins.  The finish is quite long and puckering.  Delicious stuff to sip with some stinky cheese or a chocolate dessert.  Reasonably priced at $20, this 91 point fortified wine needs to be in every bar.  It gets 5 stars from me.  Salut….

Casa Ferreirinha Esteva Tinto 2016, Douro, Portugal

08 Tuesday Mar 2022

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Medium opacity, this blend of Tinta Roriz, Touriga Nacional and Touriga Franca is a stunning ruby color in the glass with singular, yet thick legs.  On the nose it is of medium intensity with aromas like black raspberry, red plum, violet, cinnamon, coconut and dried herbs.  The palate is dry with mouth coating tannins that are medium strength to go along with the medium (-) acidity.  Flavors of red and black fruit combined with a dusty earthiness, floral notes, and some oak influence make for an interesting taste.  The wine is medium bodied with the tannins fading rapidly on the back end.  The finish is short but tasty.  There is a black tea component right at the end that I like.  Overall- this 88 pointer gets 4 stars for is $10 price point and ability to pour easily on a weekday with burgers or other non-exotic fare.  I like it.  Salut….

Vicente Faria Gloria Tinto Reserva 2016, Douro, Portugal

20 Tuesday Aug 2019

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Good rich purple color with a faint showing of legs in the glass.  On the nose- blackberry cassis, charcoal and cedar.  On the palate I get dark fruit compote, coffee bean and a touch of tannin.  The mid palate is all Ribena alongside the very slight tannins.  The finish has a more blueberry note to it, with toasty wood and the last vestiges of the tannic component.  A very nice, easy drinking wine that gets 89 points from me.  Drink till 2024 with grilled meats.  3 stars for this $15 blend.  Pairing with grilled Tri-Tip roast and patty-pan squash.  Salut….

P+S Prats & Symington Post Scriptum de Chryseia 2016, Douro, Portugal

04 Monday Mar 2019

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This is the second wine of Chryseia, it is a beautiful dark purple in the glass.  The nose gives off rose petals, perfume, black currant and cedar slate.  On the palate it is big- loads of Ribena, oregano, red licorice and a hint of wood.  The mid palate is seamless with the introduction of some very lithe tannins.  The mouthfeel is generous and warm in this wine.  It is relatively easy drinking with the mild tannins, barely perceptible acidity and warm fruit. The finish is all black currant, decent in length and not overly dry.  92 points and 5 stars for this $25 effort.  Delicious.  Drink this blend of Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Barroca, Tinta Roriz till 2030.  Salut….

Quinta do Vallado Tinto 2013, Douro, Portugal

30 Tuesday May 2017

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I really look forward to Portuguese wines.  I normally find them to be full of flavor, with good structure and interesting profiles.  This one was on sale for $14 and relied heavily on past vintage points awarded.  It starts off very promising with a rich deep purple in the glass.  Nose of bramble, blackberry and earth.  The palate is initially a little light for me.  Black cherry, more blackberry but that’s about it.  The mid palate is one dimensional, offering a dusty blackberry note and not much else.  The finish is slightly dry with some tannins finally appearing.  This wine is too thin for me, not extracted enough and lacks any long term cellaring.  I don’t think it is a repeat purchase.  83 points and 1 star from me.  Salut….

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Quinta do Crasto ‘Crasto’ 2015, Douro, Portugal

13 Saturday May 2017

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Really bright opaque purple in the glass.  The nose is inky with a touch of plum.  The palate starts off with plums, a raisin component and some oak.  A deft hand has been at work here with the tannins, they are powerful yet well integrated.  There is a freshness that I am enjoying on the mid palate along with the dryness of the tannins.  A finish of bright blueberry, tannins and a touch of heat carries on for a while.  Surprising really as this wine only weighs in at 13.5 %.  A blend of Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Touriga Franca and some Tinta Barroca.  It is actually very yummy and will rock the pork tenderloins roasting in the oven with onions and some sautéed Kale.  I’m going 90 points on this one.  Paid $17 which makes it a 4 star wine.  I have always thought of Portuguese wine as being very tasty, affordable and a go to if in a pinch.  Salut….

Quinta do Crasto 'Crasto', Douro, Portugal

Quinta Do Crasto 2009

15 Wednesday May 2013

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A re-taste from 2012 that gave me nothing at the time.  The Quinta Do Crasto 2009 that I previously tasted was absolutely closed, off-limits, nada, nothing.  This time around, much more open on both the nose and the palate.  Indeed, a rather high scoring wine.  Let’s start with the beautiful purple hue in the glass.  On the nose, gorgeous plums and blueberry.  On the attack, blackberry and spicy oak.  It’s hard to nail any varietal because this one is a  blend according to the label.  I do however, get some Touriga notes, which I love.  This Reserva was bottled in 2011 after 16 months in oak, both French and American.  I will say that I am starting to notice a little heat, wondering if the 14.5% alcohol is in balance.  I think with some more time, it will hide behind the really silky tannins that are still in force.   A long life ahead for this unfiltered wine, with further evolution that will be interesting to see.

I keep sniffing the glass, getting more depth all the time.  This is a serious wine folks, I’m glad I reserved judgement.  I would like to visit it again in 2015.  For now, this bottle is giving me a 92 point opinion  and at the decent price of around $40, 5 stars.  I would get a few for the cellar if you like Portuguese wines, this one rocks.

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Quinta Do Crasto Reserva 2009

07 Friday Sep 2012

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I enjoy Portuguese wines for their uniqueness and flavor profile. This old vine offering is a blend of the winery’s varietals that have an average age of 70 years. The label indicates 16 months in both French and American oak. They advise decanting and/or cellaring for the full enjoyment. I agree. I popped and poured and am somewhat stupefied. It is very closed on the nose and palate. A beautiful purple color is its first redeeming trait.
After an hour I tried the trusty Vinturi, still nothing. A bust, a shambles. Glowing reviews and high scores for this wine are all lost on me. I am going to have to revisit at a later date. For now, I am leaving it alone. I think it has potential and I don’t want to slam it yet. Stay tuned…

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