WTN: Quinta do Crasto Doura Reserva Portugal 1997.

Quinta do Crasto Doura Reserva Portugal 1997. 14.5% alcohol. Imported by Broadbent Selection, San Francisco. 1997 Quinta do Crasto Vinho Tinto Reserva (Douro, Portugal): This wine comes for the Roquette's estate high above the Rio Douro.

Dark ruby-garnet color, slight bricking, deep hue, vibrant aroma of cherries, plums, spices and a bit of tar, very good fruit and spice with light oakiness, medium mouth feel, well evolved tannins, good balance, long finish with many notes of fruit, spice, tarriness and oak, still vibrant despite its age, a lovely wine. 4*+.

Notes: Label: "Made from mixed varietal plantings of 60 year old vines. Nine month aging in French and American oak. Ripe plum and berry fruit with hints of chocolate and spice. Sweet, rich texture, layers of concentrated fruit and toasty vanillin oak, firm tannic structure, long persistent finish." [Tinta Roriz, Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Cão, etc. -- the exact blend is proprietary and varies year-to-year.]

Nice report Bob. Have some recent vintages in the cellar and have always thought "these are keepers".

Welcome back, Bob.

Please post your bird reports in Friends -- you may be surprised at who shares that passion.

Regards, Bob

Quinta do Crasto Doura Reserva Portugal 1997. 14.5% alcohol. Imported by Broadbent Selection, San Francisco. 1997 Quinta do Crasto Vinho Tinto Reserva (Douro, Portugal): This wine comes for the Roquette's estate high above the Rio Douro.

Dark ruby-garnet color, slight bricking, deep hue, vibrant aroma of cherries, plums, spices and a bit of tar, very good fruit and spice with light oakiness, medium mouth feel, well evolved tannins, good balance, long finish with many notes of fruit, spice, tarriness and oak, still vibrant despite its age, a lovely wine. 4*+.

Notes: Label: "Made from mixed varietal plantings of 60 year old vines. Nine month aging in French and American oak. Ripe plum and berry fruit with hints of chocolate and spice. Sweet, rich texture, layers of concentrated fruit and toasty vanillin oak, firm tannic structure, long persistent finish." [Tinta Roriz, Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Cão, etc. -- the exact blend is proprietary and varies year-to-year.]

Bob, have just opened the `04 Reserva for the new Open Mike: Douro.
I find your notes very interesting, just goes to show how these wines age so gracefully. I will post on the `04 asap.

Here is my note on the `00 I posted last year I believe................................>

WTN: `00 Quinta do Crasto Douro Reserva Old Vines.

14% alc, opened 5 hours, unfiltered, good cork and drunk over a three day period.

Color. Medium red with ruby centre. Thin watery rim, no sign of age here.

Nose. Blind, one could almost think port-like! Spiced red and black fruits, very appealing nose here.

Palate. Touriga Nacional mainstay varietal here. Initial mouthfeel entry is soft tannins, terrific finish and cracking good stuff!! Cherry, plum, chocolate, good acidity and hint of tar. Very memorable allround with the spices and ripe fruit. Not austere and plenty going on, no heat. OK, a tad new world but it works. Think I have seen the `03 here on the shelves,one to put away I`d say.

Sounds nice, Bob.

I'm just off my one month wine sabbatical, and getting slowly back into the swing. I'm going to taste a few wines to see whether I should buy a few forward, so it will be awhile before I catch up and join in the Open Mikes unless there's a coincidence of interest. But in a month or so, I'll join in again.

Regards, Bob

Guess you have some catching up to do Bob R. You also have to think CDRV over on Wine Focus, will be a busy month for you. LOL.

I'll post on this one in a couple of days: Richaud, Marcel 2005 Côtes du Rhône Villages Cairanne .

Just in from Chambers Street.

Oh, that CDRV should be nice. Sorry to say that my `04 Crasto did not hold up too good overnight. Will post as soon as I get back from some rodeo PR stuff, they only serve beer at these events.

The 2000 was the best that had been made to that date and I'm not sure they have surpassed that one yet.