A wake up call

[Roy Hersh]

I am sure by now, everyone is aware that Quinta do Crasto has received the #3 placement in the Wine Spectator's Top 100 wines this year for the 2005 Douro Reserve Vinha Velha.

I received an early morning wake up call today, from Miguel Roquette of Quinta do Crasto. He called about a question I had sent him recently. But we got into the discussion of the #3 selection by Wine Spectator.

Miguel mentioned that the flurry of media coverage in the past week or so has been incredible since the story broke. Staff from TV and radio stations from all over Portugal have descended on Quinta do Crasto, journalists from all over the place have been calling, writing and visiting. Congratulatory notes and phone calls have come from all over the globe.

This is a huge moment for Quinta do Crasto ... truly putting them on the world's stage, as never before. He can not believe all of the positive attention and is humbled by it. Anyone who knows Miguel is charmed by his ability to remain humble in the light of the greatness of Crasto's achievements ... even if they had not been this publicized prior to the WS #3 placement.

There is a reason we start every visit to the Douro during our Harvest Tours at Quinta do Crasto. It is a great ambassador for the Douro region, The Douro Boys and the country of Portugal. Toast to Crasto with a great bottle of their Port or Douro wine!

[Ray Barnes]

While I am happy that this Portugese estate has been acknowledged by WS as producing table wine of classic quality, and being the first such wine to crack the WS Top Ten ever, the down side to this award, I fear, is that its $40 price (as shown on the WS on-line video for this selection) is very likely to go up, perhaps significantly.

The #1 wine of the 2007 WS Top 100 list was a CdP, as I recall Clos des Papes, whose price abruptly rose from about $50-$60 to about $150.

If this 2005 Douro can still be found for less than $50 I would suggest that interested buyers should try it out.

[Ray Barnes]

As a postscript, the administrative staff of this forum ought to be congratulated. If any skeptic here was looking for evidence that this place is a true wine insider's place, that the members here get to find out the secrets of the best of Portugese wine before the "rest of the world" finds out, then this evidence has been unequivocally demonstrated.

I could not help but notice in Kim Marcus' video presentation of the #3 selection, his respect for the ampitheatrical nature of the Douro vineyards - something also quite prominently displayed in 's travel section.

My congrats to the distinguished Portguese estate.

Ray

[Mahmoud Ali]

Haven't seen the 2005 Quinta do Crasto Reserva recently but I did see some 2003 Quinta do Crasto Reserva. It may have been snapped up what with all the excitement but has anyone tried it? Is it any good?

Mahmoud

[Rich N.]

Since the Fall Harvest Tour 2008 stomped grapes at Quinta do Crasto, we need to get our dibs on their 2008 wines...!

Rich

[Andy Velebil]

Haven't seen the 2005 Quinta do Crasto Reserva recently but I did see some 2003 Quinta do Crasto Reserva. It may have been snapped up what with all the excitement but has anyone tried it? Is it any good?

Mahmoud

Yes it is a very nice wine. Not quite up to the level of the 2004, but still a very nice buy. If you can still get it, I'd grab 3-6 bottles as they should be drinking very nicely right now. What price are they asking for it?

[Mahmoud Ali]

Andy,

They wanted C$29.99 for the '03 Crasto Reserva.

Mahmoud

[Andy Velebil]

Thats looks like a good price for it in Canada. I'm sure our other Canadian 'ers can chime in to verify that or not. But I'd grab them if it were me. Do they also have the 1994?

[Ray Barnes]

The BC Liquor Distribution Board presently lists the 06/07 (sic) QdC Douro at $19.99.

[Ray Barnes]

Just a follow up, I purchased a bottle of what was listed as the 06/07 Quinta do Crasto Douro, and it turns out to be the 2005 vintage. It is regrettably not the Old Vine Reserva. That would have been far too much to hope for, especially here in British Columbia.

I am really looking forward to trying this wine!

[Andy Velebil]

Although not the Reserva, the regular Douro is still a very nice QPR wine in that price range.

[Ray Barnes]

Thanks Andy. Can you or anyone else direct me to a tasting note thread on that wine in the Douro wine forum? I checked the 13 pages of entries and did not see one. Or maybe, if it will not be a violation of protocol, start a new one. :)

[Andy Velebil]

Ray,

Here is a brief TN from my visit there in 2006. It is rather short but...

2005 Crasto Douro D.O.C. wine
Good fruit nose, nice smooth palate and finish. i like this more than the 2004 Flor de Crasto. A great QPR buy. 86 points.
10/04/06

[Ray Barnes]

Thank you Andy, I agree with you except I feel unqualified to give any sort of score (and still fully understand how they are calculated). In any event, being too eager to try this out, I opened a new thread - hope that will be all right. :)

[Mahmoud Ali]

Well, I went to the store this evening on my way back home and found, of all things, a bottle of 1999 Quinta do Crasto Douro Reserva. It was sitting there among the 2003 just begging to be adopted. So I obliged.

As it is an "only child" it will go into the cellar. The orphanage continues to grow.

Cheers.......Mahmoud.

[Roy Hersh]

Ray, here you go:

2005 Quinta do Crasto Douro Red
Cask sample. From 100% estate grown grapes comes this basic Douro red wine which is very popular and shows what Crasto is all about. It is still quite primary at this juncture. Spicy pomegranate and floral notes with the majority of the cuvee coming from Tinta Roriz. Very ripe, sweet purple fruit and a solid structure which leads to a smooth and moderate length finish. It should drink well upon release and through 2012. 15,000 ca. N/R (2006-10-04)

[Ray Barnes]

Thank you Roy! I find it very intriguing that this wine came 100% from the estate, which flies in the face of the WA taster's notes - and I am sure your information is accurate by comparison to the other. This makes me wonder why the adega chose to use the simple Crasto label.

I have to retaste this today or tomorrow to try to pick up the pomegranate, I completely missed that. on me, that is my favourite fruit too.

Cheers,
Ray