TN: 1998 Quinta do Crasto Vinha Maria Teresa Douro

[Andy Velebil]

It's been close to a decade since I've last had this and when I saw it in the cellar decided it was time to check in on it. Took to dinner with friends to pair with an amazing 41 ounce 45-day dry aged Porterhouse. Wine was decanted about 3 hours before consuming. This has really lightened up on the fruit front and is now displaying bright acidic driven cherries, fully resolved tannins and distinctive tobacco leaf. This is not the big rich profile of more modern Maria Teresa's, but far more Burgundian if I had to compare it to something more widely known. It continued to open up as time went on and got even more elegant. The palate had long lingering flavors and the finish a bit shorter. By the end of the bottle my thoughts were this is a wine that has reached its peak and is sitting on a plateau, where it should stay for a few more years before it starts a slow slide into old age.
93 Points

[David Spriggs]

Good to see that it's holding up!