The red wines begin with the 2009 Sangre de Toro, a blend of 65% Garnacha and 35% Carinena aged for 6 months in seasoned French and American oak. Aromas of underbrush, brier, and black cherry compose the inviting nose of this ripe, savory, mouth-filling effort. Drink this very good value over the next 3-4 years.
There was a time, perhaps 35-40 years ago when I was just becoming interested in fine wine, that Torres and Spanish wine were synonymous in the USA. There was Vega Sicilia for the cognoscenti, and a few Riojas floating about for those past the beginner stage, but for most of us there was Torres and it usually delivered the goods at a nice price ($3 for Sangre de Toro). Currently Torres towers over all the table wine producers in Penedes making several million cases plus one million cases of brandy. The winery is a tourist destination with a first-class restaurant. For many years the Torres flagship was the Gran Coronas Black Label, subsequently renamed Mas La Plana. It is produced from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Mas La Plana vineyard and aged for 18 months in new French oak.
Importer: Dreyfus Ashby & Co., New York, NY; tel. (212) 818-0770