Vinha da Ponte 2010 Crasto

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Robert Parker (95)

The 2010 Vinha da Ponte is a luxury bottling here, an old vines blend (95 years) aged for 20 months in French oak, bottled in June, 2012. If I had any question as to whether a luxury bottling should have been bottled in a supposedly difficult vintage, playing it with a while and seeing it on several different occasions surely answered that. This is serious stuff, mouth coating and powerful. It showed far better in the USA than in Portugal (when I saw it as recently bottled, demonstrating again why tasting big boy wines in quick tastings is risky). If it opens gracefully, it quickly proves it is not shy. It hit 15% in alcohol and generally seemed to handle it beautifully. Deceptively muscular initially and ultimately quite powerful after aeration, this is a Vinha da Ponte that is still balanced, showing a little restraint and finesse. It is a pretty good candidate for wine of the vintage. It still has some things to prove in the cellar – in particular, it has to integrate its oak and acquire some complexity and character – but this seems like quite an achievement in this vintage. If anything, I liked it far better the next day. I’m betting that it will age well and I’m leaning up. It needs a few years to become more expressive. There were just 3,600 bottles produced. Drink 2015-2030.

Winespectator (92)

An elegant red, with juicy flavors of red currant, raspberry and boysenberry accented by notes of chocolate mousse. Sweet tobacco and kumquat elements linger on the soft, bright finish.

BOW (7.75)