With the continuing problems in the Eurozone and the ever-rising cost of imports from the New World, Spain is becoming a good place for wine drinkers to find bargains. Swerving the traditional (and generally pricey) regions of Rioja and Priorat, wine drinkers can find fantastic deals in a number of less-well-known regions across Spain. Over the next few blogs we will introduce some of our favourite of these regions and their wines…
TORO: Quinta de Refugio Tinto 2009, Bodegas Torreduero, Toro, Spain: £7.50
The region:
Though wine has been made in the region since the end of the 1st Century BC, Toro DO has only recently gained prominence as a quality wine region, seeing a massive influx of bodegas from 2000 onwards. When the DO was established in 1987, the number was just four, led by the local cooperative, producing poor jug wines. Today, with overall quality much improved, the dominant variety is a clone of Tempranillo (a key component of Rioja reds): Tinta de Toro, which thrives the extreme continental climate (long, hot summers/cold winters). Here this variety produces rich, full-bodied reds that are generally (though not exclusively) minimally aged and designed to be consumed young.
The wine:
This wine is bursting with fresh, brambly fruit, with a hint of vanilla from barrel aging in French oak. A rich, dark, full-bodied red that matches perfectly with hearty stews, even standing up well against a spicy Chilli-con-carne!
Quinta de Refugio Tinto 2009, Bodegas Torreduero, Toro, Spain: £7.50 available now!
