Quinta Do Crasto - Vinha Da Ponte2019
RED WINE
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Producer
Quinta do Crasto
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Blend
Old vines
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Country
Portugal
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Region
Douro
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UPC
850069639396
Reviews
Wine Advocate 96+
The 2019 Vinha da Ponte, a field blend from very old vines (100+ years), was aged in new French oak for 20 months. It comes in at 14.6% alcohol. Always one of the most intense offerings from Crasto, this is true to form this year. It starts with somewhat darker and ripe fruit, then it adds layer after layer of pure power. The tannins are not impossibly astringent, but if any of Crasto's offerings in this report will be deemed astringent, it will be this one. It grips the palate and doesn't let go. It's never a boldly flavorful wine, tending more to stern and serious, but it is one that should develop brilliantly as it ages.
by MS, Wine Advocate , 2022
Wine Enthusiast 96
A powerful wine with intense black fruits and rich tannins, this is impressive and important. It has a dense black coffee aroma that
exudes a spicy character to the wine. From a single vineyard, grapes foot-trodden in lagars, bottled from the best barrels, the wine is ready for serious aging.
by RV, Wine Enthusiast , 2025
Technical Details
Ageing
20 months in new French oak barrels. The final wine results from the selection of the best barrels.
Background
A fter 2017 and 2018 yields significantly below the decade average, 2019 proved to be much more generous
and more in line with what we are used to at Quinta do Crasto. However, it was still a challenging year, with
a dry winter and spring depleting the vines' necessary soil water reserves. We found, however, that in the
months of June, July and August, the vines had well-balanced and healthy canopies, without great signs of
water stress. We attributed this balance to the mild temperatures from May to late August — 5C lower than
the previous 5-year average at Quinta do Crasto. This contributed positively to a slow and well-balanced
ripening of the grapes during July and August. Exceptional levels of ripeness resulted. The 2019 harvest
took place very calmly, with cold nights and hot, dry days that enabled picking at the ideal moment. The
rain on 21 and 22 September was essential, as it helped to refine the ripening of later varieties, namely
Touriga Franca. The 2019 harvest began with the first white grapes from Quinta do Crasto arriving to the
winery on 26 August and finished on 11 October when the berries from the highest altitude vineyards came
in. On balance, 2019 yielded highly expressive white wines, with excellent concentration and extraordinary
freshness. Our red wines also reflect the equilibrium enjoyed during the vegetative cycle. They are highly
complete wines, with vibrant aromas, excellent concentration, solid structure and, above all, they are
well-balanced with excellent ageing potential.
Tasting notes
Opaque, with deep purple hues. The nose is complex, showing wild berry fruit aromas, perfectly balanced
with elegant notes of spice and cocoa. The palate starts in an elegant way, evolving into a solid, full-bodied
wine made of firm, fine-textured tannins. The finish is complex and deep. This is a unique wine, which
captures the authentic essence of its terroir, reflecting the soul of the Vinha da Ponte vineyard.
Vinification
The grapes, coming from the vineyard plot Vinha da Ponte, are taken to the winery in 22 kg plastic boxes.
On arrival in the winery they are rigorously inspected on a sorting table. The grapes are then completely
destemmed and trodden in a traditional lagar (stone trough). Aft er this, the grape juice is transferred to
temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. Once the alcoholic fermentation is completed, the juice is
gently pressed.
