Quinta do Crasto Superior Branco 2019

€ 16.90

Pale lemon white wine. A great aromatic intensity, where the lively citrus notes perfectly match the delicate floral notes of citrus blossom and a remarkable and fresh minerality. smooth start, which develops into a balanced wine with a fresh texture. Mineral notes and lively acidity, perfectly balanced and guaranteeing an excellent persistent aftertaste. Juicy and modern Portuguese that will indeed appeal to many

This white wine derives its name from the location of the vineyard where the grapes come from, namely Douro Superior (Upper Douro).

Oxoline is used for this wine, an innovative and pioneering process in Portugal. Through this system of treatment and storage of the wine in special barrels each barrel can be individually rotated for the Bâtonnage. Bâtonnage is the stirring of the fermenting must during the vinification. The yeast sediment that is located on the bottom of the vessel is thus better in contact with the wine and the fermentation will be more optimal. The result is a tasteful and rounder wine. In contrast to traditional Bâtonnage, in which the wooden wine (bâton) is stirred in the fermenting wine, the barrel remains closed so that the wine does not come into contact with oxygen. As a result, the Crasto Superior preserves its primary aromas and the natural freshness of the grape.

Food pairing

Feel free to try roasted venison or a hard goat's cheese. Also nice with fried chicken and fish mousse.

Grapes: Viosinho (60%), Verdelho (40%)

6 months in French oak barrels of which 50% new and 50% used barrels (85% French full oak barrels and 15% French oak barrels with tops in acacia)

Process of Oxoline:

After 2017 and 2018 yields significantly below the decade average, 2019 proved to be much more generous and more in line with what we are used to at Quinta do Crasto. However, it was still a challenging year, with a dry winter and spring depleting the vines' necessary soil water reserves. We found, however, that in the months of June, July and August, the vines had well-balanced and healthy canopies, without great signs of water stress. We attributed this balance to the mild temperatures from May to late August — 5ºC lower than the previous 5-year average at Quinta do Crasto. This contributed positively to a slow and well-balanced ripening of the grapes during July and August. Exceptional levels of ripeness resulted. The 2019 harvest took place very calmly, with cold nights and hot, dry days that enabled picking at the ideal moment. The rain on 21 and 22 September was essential, as it helped to refine the ripening of later varieties, namely Touriga Franca. The 2019 harvest began with the first white grapes from Quinta do Crasto arriving to the winery on 26 August and finished on 11 October when the berries from the highest altitude vineyards came in. On balance, 2019 yielded highly expressive white wines, with excellent concentration and extraordinary freshness. Our red wines also reflect the equilibrium enjoyed during the vegetative cycle. They are highly complete wines, with vibrant aromas, excellent concentration, solid structure and, above all, they are well-balanced with excellent ageing potential.

Alcoholcontent

13 %vol

pH: 3,05

Store & Serve

Serve at 9 - 11 °C

Drink from now until 5 years after harvest year

Critics & Awards

Tags: Quinta do Crasto - Douro