Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A ripe yet fresh Toro showing fresh blackberries and cherries with hints of rosemary, bay leaves and iodine. Full body, soft, concentrated tannins and a long finish.
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Wine Enthusiast
This wine's ripe plum and berry aromas feature an oaky note of bacon. On the palate, it's choppy and aggressive with tannic bite. Dark fruit flavors are bolstered by oaky spice, tobacco and chocolate hints that persist long on the finish. A texbook Toro wine.
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.