2010 Quinta do Crasto, Douro Red, Portugal (10.95, Great Western Wine tel. 01225 322810). This new vintage has only just been released so only one merchant has stock right now, but I bet that this number will grow enormously when everyone gets the chance to taste this cuvée and its siblings, too. Crasto is a forward thinking estate in a pretty backward region and this wine caught my attention when I was trying to come up with my perfect BBQ red for this summer. It ticks every box – medium-weight, impossibly juicy, savoury, tangy, long, herbal, lip-smacking, classy, chillable (if you wish) and great value. The genius stroke here is that it only uses 10% oak and this allows the beautiful fruit to truly express its full, briary, sensual skills. Once you have been amazed by this cracker, trade up to the 2010 Superior (£14.50) which is darker and utilises its French oak extremely well – a future autumnal classic. If you want a wine for your cellar then try the 2009 Reserva Vinhas Velhas (£20.00). This old vine cuvée is a blockbuster and it needs five years to slumber before you have go and then if you need an everyday Port, look to the Finest Reserve (£11.95, all from GWW) for seamless class and awesome value. Four Cheers for Crasto!
