Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/31323
WINE BRIEFS A Taste of Toro E arlier this year the Toro D.O. toured the States with press and trade tastings in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles to showcase its Tempranillo-based wines. This historic but sometimes overlooked appellation has made enormous strides in the past decade and continues to improve as vintners modernize and bring their wines up to international standards. Consequently, the D.O. has become one of the most exciting in Spain, further solidifying the country’s stature as a wine producer that can rival France and Italy for quality. Here are notes on my favorite wines as the tour landed at the SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills in February. —Anthony Dias Blue Bodegas Francisco Casas 2008 Abba Ripe, dense, and juicy; plum and spice; lingering finsih. 89 CURRENTLY SEEKING U.S. DISTRIBUTION Bodega Cyan 2005 12 Meses ($15) Dense, ripe, rich and meaty with plum, black cherry and spice tones; long and lush. 89 Bodega Cyan 2004 Pago de la Calera ($30) Rich; juicy; complex with oak, spice, and ripe plum; stylish and lively. 90 USA WINE WEST/VINOS LIBRES Coral Duero 2006 Rompesedas ($50) Dark, dense and rich with spicy black plum and blueberries; juicy, smooth and gorgeous. 90 A typical vineyard in Toro. CLASSICAL WINES FROM SPAIN Bodegas Fariña 2004 Gran Dama de Toro ($45) Dense and ripe; juicy, long and stylish with depth and balance. 90 SPECIALTY CELLARS/THE ENYE GROUP/VERITY WINES Bodega del Palacio de los Frontaura y Victoria 2005 Frontaura Crianza ($30) Ripe, fresh, juicy and long with plum, blueberry and keen spice; structured and balanced. 89 Seminar speaker Fred Dexheimer and Jose Amancio Moyano Muñoz, President of the Consejo Regulador D.O. Toro in New York. Bodega del Palacio de los Frontaura y Victoria 2005 Frontaura Reserva ($45) Silky, smooth and ripe with complexity, length and lovely plum and berry fruit. 90 REGENCY WINES/SELECT BEVERAGE COMPANY Quinta de la Quietud 2005 Toro ($35) Dense, rich and juicy with ripe plum and berry fruit; long and concentrated. 90 SUSSEX WINE MERCHANTS Viña Zangarrón 2009 Volvoreta Probus Soft, smooth and juicy with lovely, intergrated oak and lively plum and black cherry; classy. 92 CURRENTLY SEEKING U.S. DISTRIBUTION may 201 1 / the tasting panel / 81 Rejadorada 2005 Tinto Roble ($20) Ripe, rich and dense with velvety texture and assertive plum and cherry fruit; quite lovely. 90 Rejadorada 2007 Temple ($27) Lush, ripe, dense and lively with plum, black cherry and spice; long and juicy. 91 Rejadorada 2006 Temple ($46) Smooth, juicy, and elegant with bright plum and berry fruit; long and stylish on the finish. 91 C&P WINES/CASA VENTURA IMPORTS Bodega Carmen Rodríguez Mendez 2007 Carodorum Issos ($25) Smooth, ripe, juicy with plum and black-cherry fruit; long and tangy with fresh cherry on the finish. 89 Bodega Carmen Rodríguez Mendez 2007 Carodorum ($55) Dense, ripe and juicy with plum and blackberry; spicy, exuberant, fresh and long. 90 Bodega Carmen Rodríguez Mendez 2007 Carodorum Selección Especial ($65) Dark, rich, and bursting with extracted plum and black cherry fruit; lush, deep, and long; lovely. 92 THE ARTISAN COLLECTION Viña Zangarrón 2005 El Vino de Buen Amor Juicy and bright; plum; lovely, long and rich with balance and clean, focused intensty. 90 PHOTO: JENNIFER MITCHELL PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTO COURTESY OF D.O. TORO