TN: 2007 Quinta do Crasto Old Vine Reserva Douro

[Andy Velebil]

Decanted 2 hours, consumed the following 3. This had massive amounts of oak dominating the nose and palate. It did blow off some, but still overshadowed the fruit on the nose and palate. Fruit that is now starting to slowly shedding it's baby fat. I am concerned about how dominating that vanilla oak is, as I don't see it subsiding enough to allow the aging fruit to show what it has. It was still a decent bottle but I would recommend drinking sooner rather than later. I don't see it getting better from here.
88 Points

[Rune EG]

Hmm.......
That Douro red is now more than 9 years, and should expect it to mellow a bit on the oak.
Seems the later vintages of Crasto Reserva (all from 2008 and until 2013) have less oak dominance that what you are describing.
I still have a couple of bottles of the 2007 in the cellar. Should they be consumed now as they are not likely to improve on the oak?

[Andy Velebil]

Hmm.......
That Douro red is now more than 9 years, and should expect it to mellow a bit on the oak.
Seems the later vintages of Crasto Reserva (all from 2008 and until 2013) have less oak dominance that what you are describing.
I still have a couple of bottles of the 2007 in the cellar. Should they be consumed now as they are not likely to improve on the oak?

I would say drink them up sooner rather than later. I don't see that oak subsiding now that the fruit is getting older.

And I agree around about 2009 the oak started getting noticeably less in this (and their premium bottlings as well), which is a good thing for them to hold up longer. I haven't had a 2004 Reserva in a long while so I am curious as to how that one is holding up. I've got 6 left in the offsite so will pull one next time I am there and let you know.