2015 Quinta do Crasto Vinha Maria Teresa
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Tasting notes
The 2015 Vinha Maria Teresa, a field blend from 100-year-old vines, was aged for 20 months in new oak (90% French, 10% American). It comes in at 14.6% alcohol. To my mind—reasonable minds may differ—this is usually Crasto's best bottling when it appears. When first seen a year ago, it was lovely, but it had some questions to answer. It hasn't evolved enough to cause me to change my mind much either way. The grip is subtle on the finish—Crasto always tries to tame tannins—but there is plenty of it, and the fruit lingers beautifully. It seems lush and gorgeous. To its typically delicious fruit, it adds a hint of earthiness. This is seductive and sexy even now, but it's still very young. As I said last time, you can approach this now because of Crasto's careful management of tannins, but it would be a mistake to open it even in 2020. This has the potential to continue developing and improving for a decade or more. It may last for 30 years. There were just 5,383 bottles produced, plus some large-format bottles.
Critic scores
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
Mark Squires
More reviews and scores
Centenarian vines in a field blend (49 grapes varieties have been identified so far) grown on terraces supported by stone walls. The grapes are completely destemmed and slightly crushed. After this, they are transferred to temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks. Once the alcoholic fermentation is completed, the grapes are gently pressed using hydraulic presses. Aged about 20 months in new oak barrels (90% French oak; 10% American oak). The final wine is a barrel selection. TA 4.9 g/l, pH 3.59. Bottled October 2017. Deepest cherry red with inky core. Gorgeous aroma that is a combination of lifted red and black fruit, floral topnotes and a a dusty/rocky quality, though it is the fruit that shines most brightly. So complex even though so embryonic. There's plenty of evidence of the new oak in sweet spicy aroma and flavour, especially on the palate. The tannins are remarkably sauve even though they are compact and not fully resolved. Spicy, fresh aftertaste though the alcohol shows a little on the finish. (JH)