Porto Crusted

The NV Crusted Port is a blend of Touriga Franca (40%), Tinta Barroca (32%), Tinta Roriz (16%), Touriga Nacional (10%) and Tinto Cão for the rest, An equal blend of the 2017 and 2018 vintages, it was aged for two years in stainless steel and one year in a chestnut tonel. It was bottled unfiltered in 2020 (which will be listed on the back label in very tiny print toward the bottom of the text), with 88 grams per liter of residual sugar and a long cork. Elegant and approachable, this has a backbone, but the tannins are not hard. It fleshes out a bit with aeration and develops nicely, becoming more expressive and rather delicious, in its fairly dry fashion. It’s still a bit tight, but this is quite approachable today. It will be better in a year or two and should age reasonably well, perhaps longer than indicated. This doesn’t pop” quite like the Vintage Port in this report does, but the structure is about as good and the price is a lot less, so bargain hunters might have a target here. Not imported, this runs around 34 euros in Portugal. Drink Date 2023 -2037.

A crusted Port is one that has not been filtered before bottling, therefore allowing for further aging. This wine is full of black fruits, still structured and young, that accompany acidity and sweet blackberry jam flavors over the tannins. Drink from 2025. 

The NV Crusted Port is a blend of Touriga Franca (40%), Tinta Barroca (32%), Tinta Roriz (16%), Touriga Nacional (10%) and Tinto Cão for the rest, An equal blend of the 2017 and 2018 vintages, it was aged for two years in stainless steel and one year in a chestnut tonel. It was bottled unfiltered in 2020 (which will be listed on the back label in very tiny print toward the bottom of the text), with 88 grams per liter of residual sugar and a long cork. Elegant and approachable, this has a backbone, but the tannins are not hard. It fleshes out a bit with aeration and develops nicely, becoming more expressive and rather delicious, in its fairly dry fashion. It’s still a bit tight, but this is quite approachable today. It will be better in a year or two and should age reasonably well, perhaps longer than indicated. This doesn’t pop” quite like the Vintage Port in this report does, but the structure is about as good and the price is a lot less, so bargain hunters might have a target here. Not imported, this runs around 34 euros in Portugal. Drink Date 2023 -2037.