TN: 2008 Quinta do Crasto Branco Douro White

[Ray Barnes]

I hope after 3 glasses of this stuff I can avoid too many errors. As you can guess, I liked it a lot. Imagine, if you will, a hybrid white wine composed of say 40% Alsace Sylvaner (like Weinbach Reserve, which is wonderful), 40% Zind Humbrecht Riesling Herrenweg de Turckheim, 20% New Zealand sauvignon blanc, and throw in the mouthfeel and drinkability of a good Mosel Kabinett or Spatlese. This really was better than I was expecting. On the nose it is mostly green apple and lime with a touch of herbaceousness, and in the mouth much the same, with a bit of spiciness, if you can wait long enough for the wine to open up a bit. My initial impression was that it was a dead ringer for Alsace Sylvaner, but it began to show more. It's pale yellowish-green, almost like non-emerald green beryl. It's also very refreshing due to the high acidity. The winemaker reports the vineyard is schist. Super food wine. My wife loved it too, calling it "yummy". My one minor grievance: it does finish, for my taste, a bit short. For $17.50 a bottle, it is a fine bargain for a guilt free social house white wine. It's 12.5% alcohol, and one hardly notices this until the glass has been refilled too frequently.

Overall I rate it very, very good, with the potential for excellence if it shows greater length. That is, if you can hang onto it for awhile, which may be easier said than done.

[Ray Barnes]

I forgot to mention, there is a touch of grapefruit in the flavour too. Being a lifelong fan of Fresca, this stuff went down very easily. Almost too easily!

[Andy Velebil]

Yes, this is a pretty solid wine for the price. The 2007 is still going strong and better with a couple years of age, so there is some room to age these a few years as well. But they drink so well on release there's no need to wait.

[Bob Parsons Alberta]

WTN: `08 Crasto White, Douro.

These whites can mostly be drunk on release and go well with shrimp, mussels etc. Braised pork tenderloin worked too in this case. Citrus floral nose plus apple and some minerally tones. Crisp dry on the palate, zippy, nice fruit balance. Has a green olive edge which I found in the CARM and Portal too.