Vinha da Ponte 2015 Crasto

Professional reviews

Robert Parker (94)

The 2015 Vinha da Ponte, a field blend from very old vines (100 years), was aged in new French oak for 20 months. This will be released in October 2018. It comes in at 14.5% alcohol. While Ponte does not lack for tannic structure, it is usually more closed than tannic, simply lacking expressiveness in its youth. So, too, this year, despite being double decanted. Given another 90 minutes in the glass, it finally began to come around. Even then, it wasn't fully there. It's a big mouthful, unctuous and very concentrated, but it shows no personality just now. It sure has more power and concentration than the Reserva Old Vines or the Touriga Nacional, for instance, but it lacks those wines' personality and elegance. This is a touch stolid and dense, at least now. It obviously has upside potential, but it may take a while to get there, so plan on having storage solutions. Let's be a bit conservative at the moment. There were just 2,314 bottles produced, plus some large-format bottles.