Teso la Monja Romanico 2018
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James
Suckling -
Jeb
Dunnuck -
Wilfred
Wong
Product Details
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Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Romanico is the entry level wine from Bodegas Teso La Monja. It is expressive, direct, and accessible, while still representing the varietal character of Tinta de Toro and the unique terroir of D.O. Toro. One of the finest values from D.O. Toro.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Plum and berry aromas with chocolate and lavender follow through to a medium to full body, round tannins and a fruity finish. Shows harmony and some freshness with citrus undertones.
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Jeb Dunnuck
A year-in, year-out great value, the 2018 Romanico is all Tinta de Toro brought up in used French oak. This charming, fruit-forward, yet surprisingly elegant red has lots of spicy red and black fruits, peppery herb, and graphite aromatics to go with medium-bodied richness on the palate.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2018 Teso La Monja Romanico is an upfront example of a ready-to-drink from the Toro DO. TASTING NOTES: This wine offers rich and heady aromas and flavors of red and black fruit, with a touch of oak and savory spices. Pair it with a flavorful, well-spiced curry chicken over basmati rice. (Tasted: March 21, 2021, San Francisco, CA)
Other Vintages
2021-
James
Suckling
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Robert
Parker
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Robert
Parker -
Wilfred
Wong -
Jeb
Dunnuck
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James
Suckling -
Robert
Parker -
Jeb
Dunnuck
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James
Suckling -
Jeb
Dunnuck -
Robert
Parker
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Jeb
Dunnuck
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Robert
Parker
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Robert
Parker
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Robert
Parker
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Robert
Parker
Teso La Monja was founded in 2007 by Marcos and Miguel Angel Eguren, the fourth winemaking generation of the Eguren family from San Vicente de la Sonsierra in Rioja Alavesa. As they have been growing Tempranillo in Rioja Alavesa since the late 1800’s, the Eguren family fell in love with D.O. Toro when they first travelled there with Jorge Ordóñez, seduced by the region’s original clone of Tempranillo and ungrafted vines.
Jorge Ordóñez and the Eguren family were the original founders of Bodegas Numanthia, which was responsible, along with their current work, for the resurrection of D.O. Toro as one of Spain’s preeminent wine regions. After the sale of Numanthia in 2007, the Eguren family founded Teso La Monja as a new challenge for the family – finding the elegance in the wines of Toro.
The family selected vineyards in the northernmost part of D.O. Toro that have a much higher proportion of rounded stones than what is typical. This produces extremely silky, elegant wines. The winemaker, Marcos Eguren, is considered by many to be the finest winemaker in Spain. His son, Eduardo Eguren, the fifth generation, also works as the winemaker at Teso La Monja.
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.
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.