Bodegas Cal Blanca Toro 2012
Winemaker Notes
This wine shows the brawny and bold black fruits, violet and mineral character of Toro, but with distinctive aromatic freshness, uncommon balance and licorice notes. Pair this structured, elegantly powerful red with grilled steak, prime rib, beef roast and dishes with similar heft of flavor, including braised pork shoulder and venison, which the sweet tannins of Toro should compliment well. For more casual foods, beef or pork empanadas, BBQ beef, brisket and pulled pork sandwiches, and burritos will all pair well.
Blend: 100% Tempranillo
Cal Blanca is a wine named after a vineyard located in the highest elevation subzone of the Toro DO region. The goal of Cal Blanca is to make an estate-bottled wine from a vineyard situated in the only area in Toro (Cerro del Almendro) with limestone soils. "Cal Blanca" ("white chalk" in English) refers to the rare chalky, calcareous limestone soils found in this special vineyard. Located southwest of Ribera del Duero in Zone 2, the region of Toro has a warmer climate than Ribera del Duero and its wines are bolder, meatier and more full-bodied. The profile of Toro's soils contains mostly river stones and sandy topsoil atop layers of thick, hard clay subsoil. Planted in 1985, the Cal Blanca vineyard is sited at 809 meters (2,654 ft.) elevation, 15 km southwest of the town of Toro. The vines are head pruned (also called en vaso or gobelet) in the traditional manner, dry farmed (no irrigation), and tended using organic viticulture.
Spain's remote, high elevation Spanish wine zone between the regions of Bierzo and Ribera del Duero produces intense, full-bodied reds made from Tempranillo, locally called Tinta de Toro. This local variant has adapted to the region’s climatic extremes and recognizing its potential, top producers from Ribera del Duero and Rioja have invested heavily in its vineyards.
Notoriously food-friendly, long-lasting and Spain’s most widely planted grape, Tempranillo is the star variety of red wines from Rioja and Ribera del Duero. The Rioja terms Joven, Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva indicate both barrel and bottle time before release. Traditionally blended in Rioja with Garnacha, plus a bit of Mazuelo (Carignan) and Graciano, the Tempranillo in Ribera del Duero typically stands alone. Somm Secret—Tempranillo claims many different names depending on location. In Penedès, it is called Ull de Llebre and in Valdepeñas, goes by Cencibel. Known as Tinta Roriz in Portugal, Tempranillo plays an important role in Port wine.