Region: Douro, Portugal

Varietal: A blend of 30 grape varieties from vines aged at least 70 years old.

Tasting notes: Deep ruby in colour. The nose shows a particular complexity, with notes of gum cistus and fresh spice, very well integrated with exuberant aromas of wild fruits. Elegant on the palate, rapidly evolving into a wine of excellent volume and a compact structure made of fresh, velvety-textured tannins. The finish is lingering and balanced. A wine that mirrors the unique identity of the old vines of Quinta do Crasto.

Producer: Nestled on a privileged location in the Douro, Quinta do Crasto is one of the oldest winemaking estates in the region – the name ‘Crasto’ is derived from the Latin word ’castrum‘, which means ‘Roman fort’. The first known references to Quinta do Crasto can be traced back to 1615, long before the Douro became the world’s first Demarcated Wine Region in 1756. In the early 1900s, Quinta do Crasto was purchased by Constantino de Almeida, the founder of the famous Constantino Port house. Today, his granddaughter, Leonor Roquette, and her husband Jorge Roquette own and manage the estate, together with their sons, Miguel and Tomás. The Roquette family has invested tremendous time, attention, and resources to rebuild and expand the vineyards and facilities to produce top quality Port and Douro table wines. Vineyard mapping, DNA-matched replanting, a new state-of-the-art wine cellar and centuries of tradition mean that no detail in the winemaking and vineyard management is overlooked.

Vineyard and Winemaking: The 2015 Reserva Old Vines is a field blend from old vines (average age: 70 years) aged for 16 to 18 months in 65% new oak (85% French, the rest American), depending on the lots. It comes in at 14.5% alcohol. Located in the heart of the Cima Corgo, Quinta do Crasto is officially classified as an ‘A’ grade vineyard property. The estate covers 335 acres of predominantly southern-facing slopes, extending from the banks of the Douro river up to an altitude of nearly 600 meters. One hundred and eighty-five acres of vineyards are planted primarily on terraces carved from schist, the characteristic slate-like bedrock of the Douro that allows vine roots to penetrate deep into the ground in search of water.  Made from grapes coming from old vines at Quinta do Crasto averaging around 70 years of age, Quinta do Crasto Reserva Old Vines is an authentic blend of the best that the Douro has to offer.