Quinta Do Crasto Superior Red Douro DOC 2020 750ml

Quinta do Crasto Superior Red Douro DOC 2020 (also labeled as Crasto Superior Red or Douro Superior Red) is a well-regarded Portuguese red wine from the Douro Valley, specifically sourced from the warmer, inland Douro Superior sub-region.

Producer and Vineyard

Quinta do Crasto is a historic family-owned estate in the Douro, known for both table wines and Ports. The Superior Red comes from their Quinta da Cabreira property (114 hectares of relatively young vines, about 19 years old at the 2020 harvest). Vines are planted on east-north aspects at 130–450 meters altitude, using traditional layouts like vinha ao alto (up-and-down slopes) and patamares (terraced rows). The 2020 vintage faced challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic and variable weather (warm, rainy early season followed by hot, dry summer), but yielded smaller, highly concentrated berries with excellent skin-to-pulp ratios.

Grapes and Winemaking

• Blend: Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo), and Sousão (Souzão). These are classic Douro varieties that provide structure, aromatics, color, and acidity.
• Winemaking: Grapes are hand-harvested (starting mid-August), destemmed, lightly crushed, and fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. The wine ages in French oak barrels for about 12 months. Alcohol is 14% ABV, with good freshness (total acidity 5.1 g/L, pH 3.7, very low residual sugar ~1.7 g/L). It's vegan-friendly.

Tasting Notes

• Appearance: Deep dark violet color.
• Aroma: Complex and engaging, with wild/dark berry fruits (blackcurrant, cherry, plum), fresh woodland/forest hints, fine spices, smoky notes, warm herbs, and subtle floral or cocoa undertones.
• Palate: Elegant entry that builds to excellent volume and solid structure. Fresh, great body, ripe yet firm/silky tannins, juicy concentrated fruit, and a balanced, long, lingering finish. Descriptors often highlight dark berried fruits, gum cistus (rockrose), and a smooth texture.
• Style: Forward and ripe yet fresh and balanced—not overly heavy or jammy despite the warm vintage. It shows the distinctive character of the Douro Superior: expressive fruit with good persistence.

Professional reviews for the 2020 vintage are consistently positive:

• 91 points — Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate.