Douro Red Half 2019, Quinta Do Crasto

The 2019 Tinto is a roughly equal blend of Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz and Touriga Franca, with 10% Tinta Barroca, unoaked (but for about 15% aged in used French oak for six months). It comes in at 14.1% alcohol. Simply gorgeous and another fine va lue this year, this expresses its fruit beautifully, seeming surprisingly concentrated, while maintaining its elegance. It is tightly wound and precise. The finish is mouthwatering and filled with flavor. Yet, the elegance and freshness here always s upport the fruit. I always feel a little nervous about leaning up on the score for this wine-it doesn’t have the power and depth to suggest it will age beautifully and develop notably, for the most part-but it is so perfectly put together with such f ine purity of fruit, that it forces me to lean up a little on it sometimes. This seems like one of the years in which to do that. For the moment. This understated and impeccably balanced Tinto is irresistible. 90/100 Mark Squires, Wine Advocate