2015 Douro Tinta Roriz
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Tasting notes
The 2015 Tinta Roriz was aged in new French oak for 16 to 18 months, depending on the plot (with three vineyards separately fermented). It comes in at 14.5% alcohol. Usually Crasto's burliest, most tannic wine—even the Ponte, while often more closed and with just as much power, doesn't always seem so astringent on first taste—this has calmed down a lot since I first saw it. Very graceful and surprisingly elegant, it is a wine that doesn't seem even a little burly or rich now. As time has gone on, Crasto has moved more and more to finesse in general. Of course, the 2015 vintage helps with that as well—it wasn't really a big and jammy year. Mostly, it was a fresh and elegant one. Showing beautiful mid-palate finesse and relatively ripe tannins for the brand, this dances across the palate beautifully. It has lost some of the intensity it originally had, but it still tightens notably. It is not ready by any means. While losing some intensity, it has not yet replaced that with harmony and complexity. We are in a bit of an awkward stage. We are going to have to wait a few more years, at least. This is a little more closed than when I last saw it, but its future still looks bright.
Critic scores
Average Score
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
Mark Squires
More reviews and scores
From the best Tinta Roriz plot of Quinta do Crasto. Vines aged 32 years planted at 300 m. Foot-trodden in a traditional stone tank (lagar) and then transferred into an open stainless steel tank where the cap is pressed down with robotic pistons. Fermentation takes place for 10 days under strictly controlled temperature environment. Once the alcoholic fermentation is completed, the grape are gently pressed using hydraulic presses. Aged in new French oak. Bottled October 2017. TA 5.1 g/l, pH 3.76. Surprisingly dark – almost as dark as the Touriga Nacional though with more red at the rim. Intense, sweet dark-red fruit on the nose, sweet plum and cherry with a light smokiness perhaps from the oak but it's also a smokiness that suggests a dusty, rocky, mineral character. Extremely chewy tannins at the moment but the whole thing is plush and rich and generous, with less oak sweetness than I remember and more savoury than I would expect from Tinta Roriz. Clearly a very special parcel of vines. Some peppery spice on the nose and palate and a bright freshness giving bite on the finish. Although the tannins are powerful, they are very fine-grained and the acidity balances the richness and powerful texture well. Long finish. Needs time. (JH)