2016 Quinta do Crasto Douro Red Reserva Old Vines

The 2016 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. This year, Crasto eliminated two southern-exposure plots in the vineyard because they were not fresh enough, and Maria Teresa and Vinha da Ponte lots were eliminated because both produced separate wines this year. This may not be the biggest or most powerful or deepest Old Vines, but it will certainly be considered one of the best. Like the Crasto Superior this issue, it has all the hallmarks of the 2015 vintage—elegance, freshness and big, vivid fruit flavor. Here too, and as with most 2015s, the fruit is never jammy but always well-defined by acidity. This then adds a layer of concentration to the Superior and more caressing texture as well. The finish is longer too. This is a beauty that will be approachable young, but it will hold well—20 years should not be a problem, while more is easily possible. This still has some upside potential, by the way. You can certainly plunge in now, but it may yet develop more. If it does, it might even be entitled to an uptick.