Winemaker Notes
Teso La Monja is a fascinating journey full of emotions, which makes you travel to that little unreleased plot. It should be kept in your memory as a precious and fragile treasure.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
An outstanding Toro wine that's structured but polished, with piles of dusty tannins. Rich, meaty blackberries, dark chocolate and some graphite and sweet spices. Full and broad, with a long, flavorful finish.
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2021 Victorino is all Tinta de Toro from very old, head-trained fines and was raised entirely in new oak. Black and blue fruits, spicy oak, graphite, and a kiss of lead pencil all define the bouquet, and it's medium to full-bodied on the palate, with beautifully integrated oak, ripe, polished tannins, and a great finish. Its purity as well as overall balance are exceptional.
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Wine Spectator
Warm cherry, blueberry and fig flavors are accented by pretty notes of violet, anise, graphite and cocoa powder, all refreshed by citrus peel acidity. This well-knit red is lush and creamy, but dusty tannins provide supple definition, with hints of wild herbs, loamy earth, black olive and smoke lingering on the finish. Drink now through 2031.
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.