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 Teso la Monja in Toro of Zamora in northwestern Spain |
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Teso la Monja 2007 Almirez
91 Points Wine Advocate - 91 Points Tanzer
You've heard of Rioja, Ribera del Duero, maybe Priorat but you've probably not heard of Toro. Few have heard of this part of northwestern Spain and it's strange because wine has been made here since the Greeks taught the craft to the Celtic tribes in the first century B.C. Here the grape variety is Tinta de Toro or Tempranillo as most of us known it. Toro wines have filled royal cellars as well as the ships that set sail for the New World. While the vineyards of France were suffering from the Phylloxera plague, Toro wines were unscathed because that devastating root louse cannot survive in the sandy soils of the Toro region -in fact to this day there are many vineyards boasting of their pre-phylloxera vines capable of wonders modern rootstock cannot pretend to achieve. All this and still Toro is not a household name. Times are changing. In fact, in our time, the Eguren family played a large role in propelling Toro back to prominence. Their pre-phylloxera reds from Bodegas Numanthia were so compelling that the Eguren family received an offer they could not refuse. The luxury titan Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessey recognized the merit of their wines and in turn purchased the property. Such recognition bolstered the reputation ever further and now Toro has caught the world by storm. Armed with hefty bags of Euros, the Eguren family set out to do what they do best all over again. The Egurens make fine wine and have launched their Bodegas Teso la Monja with this 2007 Almirez. From pre-phylloxera vines this wine is concentrated with ample fruit and structure for considerable aging. It shows that roasted meaty character that proudly marks the wines of Toro and will surely capture more acclaim for the region and your table. Teso la Monja 2007 Almirez, Toro, Spain |
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Teso la Monja 2007 Almirez
Wine Spectator - 92 Points
Characteristics:
100% Tinta de Toro (Tempranillo)
Cedar mulch, baking spice and glorious deep fruit is more than enough to lure the nose deeper but with scents like these it cannot be helped. Plum skins and bright cherried fruits reward the palate and are held in check by ligneous tannins and a faint oily quality on the finish. With its broad build and savory complexity, Almirez is a definitive Tinta de Toro sure to provide a glowing example of this grape from Toro. Tasting review by Nicholas D. Livingston (December 2009)
Expert Reviews
91 points Wine Advocate
The grapes for the 2007 Almirez came from 30-year-old ungrafted head pruned vines. The wine was aged for 12 months in one-year-old French oak. Deep crimson-colored, it displays an expressive nose of spice box, espresso, plum, and blackberry compote. Full-bodied on the palate with layers of savory black fruits, lots of spice, and enough fine-grained tannin to evolve for 1-2 years, it will drink beautifully from 2011 to 2019. It is an excellent value that over-delivers in a big way. Bodegas Teso La Monja is the Eguren family's new project in Toro featuring a state of the art winery and old vines of Tinta de Toro (Tempranillo). The sandy soils here meant that phylloxera never took hold so that most of the vines are ungrafted.
Jay Miller
91 points Tanzer's International Wine Cellar
Deep, vivid ruby. Very pretty, focused aromas of raspberry, rose, minerals and Asian spices. Sweet red and dark berry flavors are complicated by graphite and candied floral qualities reminiscent of pinot noir. The finish features smoky minerals and leaves behind sweet red fruits. This lively wine is balanced to reward aging: I'd give it at least another couple years before pulling the cork.
Josh Raynolds, Sep/Oct 09
Get a bottle for your table or a six bottle case for your cellar. Save $6 off each and every bottle whether you buy one bottle or 10 cases using promo code 051410 at checkout online. Shop Teso la Monja 2007 Almirez today! |
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