The 2015 Vintage Port was last seen in Porto. This is the first look in the U.S. (a preview was in our August issue). It is a field blend from old vines (an average of 80 years) that comes in with 105 grams per liter of residual sugar. In many ways, this is a good example of how the wines often are better early on in Porto than several months later, after closing down and shipping to the U.S. This has tightened dramatically, the good fruit no longer its centerpiece. The backbone seems to have far more steel, though, and this is more than a little astringent. Underneath, there is still that fine fruit, which eventually asserts itself, especially if you recork it and hold it for a couple of days. The mid-palate shows good concentration, especially in the context of this lighter-styled vintage. It does have all the freshness I expect in the vintage, though. This is an excellent effort by Crasto, but it does need some rest. If it develops as I hope, it may even be entitled to an uptick in score.

Mark Squires - Wine Advocate (94)