2013 Maria Theresa
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Tasting notes
First vintage 1998, then made only in 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2013. A barrel selection. 7,000 bottles only. Vines 100+ years, several varieties. Foot trodden in lagar and then fermented in open-topped inox fermenters with robotic pigeage. 20 months in new barrels (85% French, 15% American). TA 4.8 g/l, pH 3.61, RS 1.3 g/l. Intense, dark savoury spice. Chewy and dense but a lifted almost floral note. Lots of dark spice on the palate, all upright and peppery liquorice darkness but still that floral note. Chewy at the moment but with marked freshness on the finish. Bone, bone dry, layers of complexity. Dark and coaly (fine, compacted texture) on the finish. (JH)
Critic scores
Average Score
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
Mark Squires
More reviews and scores
The 2013 Vinha Maria Teresa is Crasto's lone single vineyard wine this year--there will be no Ponte--and it is a beauty. Showing the big flavor that this bottling always produces, it is nonetheless a remarkably graceful wine, impeccably balanced, pointed and focused. Over the years, this bottling has become ever more graceful while always retaining its identity. Never bombastic these days, this bottling can be a good food wine, as well as a tasty treat. The bright fruit, laced with a bit of blueberry and vanilla in its youth, becomes more nuanced over time and continues to evolve in the glass. Some air and time does this a lot of good. Its tannins are well integrated, but they do make an appearance. Overall, this is very approachable, but it would be a waste to dive in now. It should hold together very well in cellar over the next couple of decades; let's start conservatively in that regard. It is a beauty overall.
About the producer
Product details
Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca/Touriga Francesa, Tempranillo, Other
Red
Dry