by Bob Parsons Alberta » Wed Jan 19, 2011 1:36 pm
Glad you are up and running Michael and look forward to your future TNs. I have said it before here, there are some great whites coming from Portugal. Yippee yah oh!
Roy kindly mentions the `04 Crasto. My notes on the `04 pail in comparision to Roys and Sarahs! Here is what Sarah Ahmed wrote in her Top 50 precis. Think Roy is on the same wavelength!
A powerful nose, with liquorice and spice – Tomas Roquette believes it’s one of the best reservas produced – it shows off the complexity of fruit, oak and vineyard very well – super-spicy with fabulous balance and a mineral-laden, long and persistent fine well supported by ripe but present tannins. A long life ahead of this wine. Top notch.
In late 2007, I posted here the following impression on the `04 Reserva.......>
WTN: `04 Quinta do Crasto Reserva Old Vines.
My second bottle of three! Owned by the Roquette family, new winemaker is Dominic Miller from land of Oz. Maybe a new direction in the coming years?
Blend of mainly Tinta Roriz and Touriga Nacional, foot-treading in lagares.
Bottled unfiltered, good natural cork, 14.5% alc, $26 Cdn. Expect this wine to be very expressive of the Douro!
WTN: `04 Quinta do Crasto Reserva Old Vines.
My second bottle of three! Owned by the Roquette family, new winemaker is Dominic Miller from land of Oz. Maybe a new direction in the coming years?
Blend of mainly Tinta Roriz and Touriga Nacional, foot-treading in lagares.
Bottled unfiltered, good natural cork, 14.5% alc, $26 Cdn. Expect this wine to be very expressive of the Douro!
Color. Dark purple, no red hints and no sign of age. The centre is getting close to being almost opaque.
Nose. Violets, cherry, berry fruits. Fresh, lively, hint of chocolate, oak and spice. No pepper and not much of a change after decanting for 3 hrs.
Palate. Initial mouthfeel entry is ripe black fruits, soft tannins, smooth and drinks nicely. Giving it some time, noted silky/mocha/port-like/no heat.
Very nice balance`twixt the alcohol, the spice and the ripe fruit. Better half thought "cherry, plum some might think more of a modern style" but she has thought that before!
After 24 hrs, I was afraid of a downward closing trend but held up pretty well on further reflection. I did notice vanilla and coconut on the nose (how did I miss that last night?). Took into DeVines and staff thought top-notch, so there!