Quick Review: 2009 Muruve Toro by Bodegas Frutos Villar

Today I am reviewing the 2009 Muruve Toro from Bodegas Frutos Villar.

The Basics:  This wine is from the Toro region in the northwest of Spain where the locals refer to the Tempranillo graped used in the wine as Tinta de Toro

In Your Glass:  The wine is deep purple in color

On The Nose:  Dark cherry and blackberry fruit dominate the nose.  Notes of vanilla and some herbs and baking spices round it out. 

On The Palate:  Dark berry and sweet cherry fruit are front and center.  Smooth tannins provide some structure and lead to a rather long finish for a wine in this price range.

Overall:  Toro is always a great region to look to for Tempranillo values, and this one does not disappoint.  It packs a lot of punch for a price tag right around $15.  This Tinta de Toro would pair perfectly with an authentic Spanish Jamon Iberico and aged Spanish cheese. 

Valdrinal Crianza Ribera Del Duero 2004

Although there are many great regions in Spain for Tempranillo, Tinto Fino, or any of the many names that different parts of Spain call this varietal, I have to say that for my money Ribera del Duero gives me the most bang for my buck. This example from the 2004 vintage is no exception to that rule, and delivers whole lot of bold, juicy flavor with finesse for a mere $14.

Made from 100% Tinto Fino that is aged in French and American oak for 12 months, the Valdrinal Crianza Ribera del Duero 2004 is deep garnet red in color. The nose brings cherry and dark plum fruit with an earthy element that brings an added dimension to the bouquet. On the palate you get a healthy dose of cherry fruit up front with notes of earth, cedar, and spice on the finish. Acidity that is just right and very nice tannins that are clearly present but not overwhelming make this a well balanced, very food friendly wine.

Overall, this is one heck of a bargain that brings a fantastic balance between fruit and finesse for under $15! This wine would work very well with a wide variety of dishes, but like any really good Spanish wine, it leaves me wanting some Jamon Iberico, Manchego and Zamarano cheese, and other delicious hot or cold tapas.

On a side note, I got this from the new Stew Leonard's store in Carle Place, NY where the staff was friendly and helpful and very knowledgeable. The key to any good wine store is a knowledgeable staff.

Cheers!

Pete

Emilio Moro Finca Resalso Ribera del Duero 2008

I've always been a huge fan of Spanish wines, and after drifting away from them for a little bit, I'm back on a Spanish kick again in a big way. In the last few weeks I've looked at a Rioja and a Toro, so it only seems fair that I look at that other great region for Tempranillo, Ribera del Duero.

The Emilio Moro Finca Resalso 2008 is 100% Tinto Fino (Tempranillo) from the Finca Resalso vineyard that was originally planted in 1932, which also happens to be the year of winery founder Emilio Moro's birth. The wine sees 4 months in French oak and shows a medium red color. The nose has some floral elements as well as notes of caramel and leather that add to the bouquet of red and black fruit. On the palate you get beautiful cherry fruit with a hint of strawberry that is balanced by very nice acidity and very well integrated and mild tannins. Overall this is a very easy drinking wine with a decent amount of depth to it.

Like so many Spanish reds, this wine wants tapas to go with it. It would make for some great sipping with Jamon Serrano, Zamarano cheese, and Marcona almonds. For the price of about $14, its also a very good deal.

Cheers!

Pete

Numanthia Termes Toro 2008

Toro. The name is rather appropriate for the wines in this lesser known region of Spanish reds. Toro is Spanish for bull and much like the animal, the wines of Toro are not light and dainty by any means. The red wines of Toro are often big, muscular, and powerful. Although Toro primarily uses the same Tempranillo (although it is often called Tinto de Toro in the region) grape that its more famous neighbors in Rioja have used for centuries, differences in terroir and style generally result in much bigger and bolder wines. The vineyards of Toro generally see altitudes of 2000 to 2500 feet with full sun in the daytime followed by cool nights which gives the vines the ability to produce thicker skinned, riper fruit. Couple that with the touch off the right winemaker, and Toro can produce some delicious, powerhouse reds.

Numanthia Termes Toro 2008 is no exception to the Toro style. It is a big, powerful red that brings just enough balance and depth. The grapes are harvested from 30 year old vines grown in rocky soils, and they see extended maceration on the skins and 16 months in French oak before bottling. The wine is an intense purple-red color in your glass and brings a bouquet of cherry and black plum with notes of leather and pencil shavings. On the palate the cherry and blackberry fruit bring an initial explosion of flavor that lingers quite nicely on the palate in a sneaky long finish. You also get a hint of minerality on the finish which is a nice added dimension. The acidity is pleasant and not overwhelming and the tannins are just about perfect if the wine is given 30 to 45 minutes in a decanter. My favorite pairing for this wine is a glass and my comfy living room chair, but it also pairs rather nicely with Jamon Iberico or other Serrano ham and Mahon cheese. It would also work with grilled red meats.

Overall, this fantastic Toro is a great value, and I will be buying much more of it for a price tag of around $25. Its drinking beautifully now if decanted, and it should drink nicely for many years. To learn more about Numanthia Termes, see their website at http://www.numanthia.com/ and to see reviews of other Spanish wines see http://acoupleofwines.blogspot.com/search/label/Spain

Cheers!

Pete

Montebuena Rioja 2009

I'll start this post by apologizing for my lack of activity in 2010. Due to some changes in my real job, 2010 left me very little time and energy for wine writing, but I'm pleased to say that 2011 is a new year that will have me writing regularly about wine once again.

Today's subject is a red wine from Spain's famous Rioja region. La Rioja is in North Central Spain and has been a leading wine region in that country for centuries. In fact wine has been made in the region since the time of the Roman Empire, and Rioja is the one region in Spain that has been known for quality more than quantity for centuries. I often find myself looking to other regions for values since Rioja is so well established, but every once in awhile I'm lucky enough to discover a great value in Rioja.

Many grapes are permitted by the D.O.C. in La Rioja, and you will see wines that range from 100% Tempranillo to wines that have varying amounts of Mazuelo (Carinena to much of the rest of Spain and Carignan in France), Graciano, and Garnacha depending on the winemaker and what part of Rioja the winery is in. There is also varying levels of oak that different Rioja's will see, which can really change the character of the wine. The Montebuena Rioja 2009 is 100% Tempranillo that brings a very nice medium red color in your glass. The nose brings a great combination of red and black fruit with some spice and a very mild floral element. On the palate you get delicious ripe fruit with just the right acidity and mild tannins. This wine brings incredible balance and depth for a bottle that can be easily found for under $10!

Overall this wine is a great value that drinks like a wine that costs two to three times as much. The acidity and the balance make this a very food friendly wine that will be quite versatile for pairing with many different foods. In fact that versatility makes it perfect for traditional Spanish tapas or small plates where you may be eating many different types of foods. This Montebuena Rioja will work beautifully with Paella, Jamon Serrano, Manchego cheese, Marcona almonds, and a nice mix of Spanish olives. With its great flavor, versatitlity and its incredible $10 price, this is a wine that you should buy by the case!

Cheers!

Pete

Atalayas de Golban Ribera Del Duero 2005

Atalays de Golban is a wine with a pretty interesting story. The fruit for this very nice Ribera del Duero is sourced from vineyards in and around the village of Atauta in the forgotten eastern edge of the Ribera del Duero region. This area was not highly sought after by growers and winemakers, and in 1999 wine merchant Miguel Sanchez was able to buy up most of the land in this region at rather low prices. The land included many old vine Tinto Fino/Tempranillo plantings that had been neglected for years and just needed some care. The land here is at higher elevation and cooler temperatures than most of Ribera del Duero, which results in a somewhat longer growing season than most of the region. Sanchez first used this fruit for his Dominio de Atauta project and then bought even more land for Atalyas de Golban before prices quickly rose in Atauta due to his early success there.

Sanchez' French winemaker Bertrand Sourdais has come up with some great results in this 2005 offering. Intense purple in color, the wine was aged in 20% new and 80% used French oak. Aromas of blackberry, dark plum and cassis are laced with notes of leather and spice. This 100% Tinto Fino/Tempranillo has a rich, full bodied mouthfeel. Fruit forward in style, dark berries dominate the palate with some mild pepper on the nice finish. Smooth tannins round out the structure.

I had this with an authentic Hungarian pork dish, and it worked pretty well, but ideally this should be paired with grilled red meat, especially lamb, or good dry Spanish cheese like an aged Manchego or Mahon.

At a price right around $20, this wine represents a pretty good value.

Bodegas Sabor Real 2006 Toro

Lets start this one by talking a little bit about Spain and Toro. Right now, Spain has some of the best wine values you will find in the world - wonderful wines from many regions and different grapes with the opportunity to get great quality for your money. Toro is a region that is a bit of a well kept secret. Toro reds are generally made with the same Tempranillo grape used in the better known region of Rioja (in Spain wines are named after the region not the grape), although in Toro the grape is often called Tinto de Toro. The beauty of the Spanish system which names the wine after the region is that the same grape in different regions will actually make wine that is similar but unique from the other regions. I could start a whole dissertation on terroir here, but that's for another day. The beauty of Toro is that it is an up and coming region, which means you will generally get great value for your money with these wines.

Bodegas Sabor Real 2006 Toro is one of the standout values in Toro. On the nose it has an aroma of smoky spice and blackberry. It has a great, full bodied mouthfeel with loads of spice and fruit and it is very nicely balanced. This can be had for as low as $9.99 a bottle, and at that price this is one to buy by the case. This is one of the best bottles I've ever had in the under $10 price range. Parker gave this one 90 points. Highly recommended!

This wine will pair wonderfully with a wide range of foods. It goes great with pork tenderloin or grilled lamb chops, and it is great with an authentic Spanish paella with chorizo sausage. I had it last night with some tapas - figs with manchego cheese wrapped in jamon serrano (cured spanish ham). Both the figs and the wine were delicious.