TN: The `08 Crasto White!

[Bob Parsons Alberta]

TN: `08 Quinta do Crasto White Douro.

Superb 2nd vintage from Crasto, the `07 was the first white produced and highly acclaimed.

$24 Cdn, 12.5% alc, Lot 02B09, natural cork of some class!, blend of Gouveio, Roupeiro and Rabigato. Opened not too chilled and served over two days.

Color. Very pale straw, almost watery.

Nose. Fresh citrus, minerally, pear, herbal/grass, fragrant. Could be mistaken for a Sauv Blanc?

Palate. Initial impression is this is drier than the recent Portal which had some RS. Crisp, fresh, big acidity, mineral. Medium-bodied, dry-ish, tart, grassy with BC apple, the green one! "Quite citrus based", from across the table. Quite an interesting style of wine here, everything lingers on the palate.
Food was stuffed pork tenderloin (duxelle), roasted red peppers and penne fines herbes. Great white, enjoy if you can find it!

[Andy Velebil]

Bob,

Love these whites from Crasto and I've had enough of them since the first release of the 2007 to know. The best part is these are aging pretty darn well so far, the 2007 has an incredibly long lingering finish. Certainly that's because a portion of this is from about 60 year old white vines. I'd recommend putting a couple away and let them get a few more years on them.