Quinta do Crasto Tinta Roriz 2018

Region and Vineyards

Quinta do Crasto sits in Douro, a dramatic valley where schistous slopes, intense summer light, and wide day-to-night temperature swings help build colour, tannin, and aromatic definition. The 2018 growing season began unusually wet after a very dry winter, bringing mildew pressure around flowering and fruit set, then turned hot and dry through August, allowing excellent canopy function and steady ripening.

Fruit for this wine comes from the estate's best Tinta Roriz plots, with 35-year-old vines trained on traditional patamares terraces. These terraced vineyards span multiple exposures (east, south, west, and north) around 300 m altitude, helping preserve freshness while achieving full phenolic maturity, a key reason the finished wine shows both structure and lift.

Winemaking

Made from 100% Tinta Roriz, the grapes are brought in small 22 kg boxes and rigorously selected. After complete destemming and a gentle crush, fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks, prioritising clean fruit expression and controlled extraction. Once alcoholic fermentation is complete, the wine is gently pressed, preserving supple texture while keeping tannins precise.

Ageing follows for 18 months in French oak barrels, adding seasoning rather than dominance: cocoa, subtle spice, and a more composed frame for the Douro's natural density. Bottled in January 2021, it sits at 14.5% abv with a firm structural core (total acidity 5.3 g/L; pH 3.74), aligning perfectly with the wine's stated aim of concentration plus freshness.

Tasting Notes

• Color: Deep ruby, vivid and saturated to the rim.
• Aroma: Excellent intensity with cocoa, gum cistus (rockrose), and fresh wild berries, edged by discreet oak spice.
• Palate: Enchanting entry that expands into impressive volume and tense, high-quality tannins; solid structure, excellent freshness, and a persistent, characterful finish.

Did you know?

In Portugal, Tinta Roriz is widely used as a local name for Tempranillo (also known as Aragonez in some regions), and in Douro it can deliver both generous fruit and serious, ageworthy tannin when grown on terraces and handled with careful extraction.

Wine Pairing Ideas

• Braised Iberian pork cheeks: The wine's firm tannins and cocoa-spice notes love slow-cooked richness, while the fresh finish keeps the pairing lively.
• Duck breast with cherry reduction: Echoes the wild-berry profile and lets the wine's structure frame the duck's silky fat.
• Grilled lamb with rosemary and black olives: Herbal, savoury accents amplify the Douro character, and the oak seasoning complements char and smoke.
• Mushroom risotto with aged hard cheese: Umami meets structure; the wine's tension and persistence cut through creamy texture beautifully.

Located on the right bank of the Douro River, between the towns of Régua and Pinhão, Quinta do Crasto is a property of 130 hectares, 70 of which are planted with vines.

Nestled on a privileged location in the Douro Demarcated Region, Quinta do Crasto has belonged to the family of Leonor and Jorge Roquette for over a century and like all the great properties of the Douro it dates back to ancient times - the name "Crasto" is derived from the Latin word "castrum", which means "Roman fort".

The large investments made over the past few years have seen considerable advancements in the reorganisation of the vineyards and the implementation of modern equipment in the winery. This work has resulted in a great selection of top-quality wines, including blended wines (Crasto, Crasto Superior and Quinta do Crasto Reserva Old Vines), single varietal wines (Tinta Roriz and Touriga Nacional), single vineyard wines (Vinha da Ponte and Vinha Maria Teresa), and special category of Port wines (Finest Reserve, LBV and Vintage).

Despite the use of state-of-the-art winemaking technology, Quinta do Crasto maintains its traditional foot treading method, carried out in large granite tanks called "lagares".

The completion of this phase of investment and the passion for making exceptional wines has contributed to Quinta de Crasto´s growing national and international reputation.