Quinta do Crasto Vintage 75cl

Designation of Origin: Port

Vintage Year:
2022 was characterized as an extremely dry year. Reduced rainfall throughout most of the growing season, along with high temperatures recorded during the spring and summer months, had a significant impact on both the quantity and ripening of the grapes. The winter period, or dormancy of the vines, between November and February, recorded very low rainfall, and from June onwards the region entered a severe drought, reaching 46.5°C in Pinhão, the highest value ever recorded in Portugal. It should be noted that the minimum temperatures at night during these periods were also high, preventing the vines from recovering during the night. Due to the high temperatures, there was an anticipation of flowering and veraison. Despite good bunch formation, the impact of the climatic conditions was significant, with the bunches and berries being smaller than usual, also demonstrating the extreme resilience of the vines, which defended themselves against the drought that set in at the very beginning of their cycle. Ripening checks were brought forward to the beginning of August, with harvesting starting on August 18th.

Grape varieties: white. This was the second earliest harvest, after 2017. Maturation analyses showed some abnormality in the development of the berry compounds, with low sugar and acidity levels compared to average values, a situation explained by the climatic conditions observed. Despite the unusual climatic conditions throughout the year, the old vines of Quinta do Crasto ended up being a positive surprise, with the vines adapting well and producing excellent quality wine. This good performance is explained by the age of the vines, with a good root system capable of reaching deeper soils with some level of moisture, size, and training system that protects them from water stress and low production. The exposure and essentially the elevation of the different plots were preponderant factors in terms of production, with the lower elevations showing much lower yield levels when compared to plots and vines at higher elevations. The rainfall that occurred in the second week of September was of tremendous importance in terms of must quality. Despite forcing a halt to the harvest, the vines experienced a "release" and reacted quickly to the increased water availability, leading to higher yields and alcohol content in the must, without compromising the sanitary aspects of the production. The year 2022 was definitely challenging, with the wines exhibiting moderate alcohol levels, balanced acidity, stable colors, and good structure, but above all, fantastic elegance!

Winemaking:
The grapes, sourced from old vines, were transported in plastic food crates and underwent rigorous sorting upon arrival at the winery. After gentle crushing, without destemming, they were transferred to a traditional lagar (wine press) where they were foot-trodden at regular intervals. Alcoholic fermentation was precisely stopped with the addition of grape brandy, ensuring the desired balance between alcohol and residual sugar.

Aging:
Quinta do Crasto Vintage aged in 9000-liter oak barrels for approximately 2 years. It was bottled without any fining or filtration, and may therefore develop a slight sediment during its aging process.

Exam Grade:
With an intense, almost opaque violet color, this wine displays a vibrant aromatic range on the nose, with fresh notes of rockrose, wild blackberries, and delicate hints of cocoa, highlighting its complexity and depth. On the palate, it begins with great power, developing into a compact structure supported by firm but refined tannins, giving it a solid and perfectly balanced base. This is a wine of high complexity and persistence, with clear aging potential.

Technical Information:
Vine Age: Over 60 years old. Serving Temperature: 14-16º. Exposure, Soil and Altitude: East - South; Schist. 120 to 450m. System: Traditional terraced vineyard. Alcohol: 20%. Bottling: November 2024 | Total Acidity: 3.5 g/L. pH: 3.90. Residual Sugar: 92 g/L. Baumé: 3.3