Toresano Recommended Wines (from Isi’s hometown of TORO)

Isi’s stunningly beautiful home town of TORO is not only a great place to visit but is also known as one of the top 3 prestigious wine regions in Spain. Anyone who knows anything about Spanish wine will certainly sing the regions praises. The noble local grape variety ”TINTA DE TORO”, the extremely hot summers and extremely cold winters found in one of the driest regions in Spain provide conditions for full bodied, premium red wines. Bodegas Farina is one of the oldest, most respected family run wineries in the region – so try these fantastic examples to discover one of Spain’s best kept secrets.

Farina Malvasia White

One of the very few white wines in the region. Made from up to 100 year old Malvasia vines, it is fresh, aromatic, juicy and refreshingly crisp.

Farina Tinta De Toro Red

This luscious young red is deeply concentrated yet juicy and full of pure red fruits. No oak, just lots of fruit!!

Farina Tinta De Toro Crianza

This concentrated, modern, premium crianza has been aged in top French oak barriques for up to 11 months for extra depth and complexity. A big wine for big food!!

If you like these wines, ask Isi for case prices as you won’t find them in many places in the UK

House Wines

Amapola Blanco (Penedes) 2008

Xarello, Macabeo and Parellada. Fresh and tasty with light acidity and elegant balance. The intense aromas of fresh green apple and banana blend perfectly to achieve a long fruit flavour.

Amapola Tinto (Penedes) 2008

Tempranillo, Garnacha and Monastrel. A smooth wine, with wild fruit flavours, hints of vanilla and a pleasant dry liquorice finish.

House Rioja

Otonal Blanco 2008

100% Viura. Produced by cool fermentation, this wine is pale yellow in colour with amber tones and a deliciously fruity nose. A perfectly balanced wine which is lively on the palate and has excellent acidity

Otonal Tinto 2008

A young Rioja made from 60% Tempranillo, 30% Garnacha, 5% Mazuelo and 5% Graciano. A mellow wine with moderate tannins and great length.

Half Bottles

Wina Sol (Penedes) 2008

Elegant, fresh, fruity aromas with fine spicy hints. Smoth, rich and crisp on the palate, with plenty of fruity flavours (apples and pineapples) and a touch of spice (fennel).

Anares Crianza (Rioja) 2006

Cherry red with ruby tones, clean and bright. Open fruity aroma and a balanced bouquet with an excellent hint of oak. Well balanced with long finish.

White Wines

Torres Vina Sol (Cataluna) 2008

Elegant, fresh aroma with exquisite fruity hints. Smooth, rich and crisp on the palate, with plenty of fruity flavours (apples and pineapples) and a tocuh of spice (fennel).

Anares Blanco (Rioja) 2008

Golden yellow with amber tones. A well balanced fruit and oak nose with vanilla. Moderate tannin expression from its oak ageing.

Palacio De Bornos (Rueda) 2008

A dry wine with a fruity and fragrant aroma. To the palate, it is fresh, clean and light, with perfect balance.

Crego e Monaguillo (Galicia) 2008

On the palate is fresh with an excellent balance between alcohol content and acidity. Silky and battery. Long finish. This Treixadura Torrontes will surprise many people.

Vina Costeira (Ribeiro) 2008 Award Winner At Decanter Tasting

Pale straw yellow in colour. Intense floral bouquet with clean fruit aromas. A well structured wine with an appetising palate and interesting aftertaste

Bornos Sauvignon (Rueda) 2008

Made entirely from Sauvignon Blanc grapes, this is a bright wine, straw yellow in colour. Its tropical bouquet is clean and intense with a hint of papaya. A classic sabre swishing Sauvignon, the equal of aany Sancerre.

Muga Blanco – Barrel Fermented (Rioja) 2008

An aromatic and fragrant wine. Pale in colour with well balanced acidity producing an exhilarating taste. An outstanding general softness.

Enrique Mendoza Chardonnay (Alicante) 2008

This is a wine with great fruit intensity and aromas reminiscent of pineapple and citrus fruit. On the palate, it is dry with a good acidity and a creamy character. The finish is long and tastey. Excellent with paella.

Albarino Carqueixal (Rias Baixas) 2008 Excellent!!

Albarino is an extraordinary grape native to Galicia. This is a wonderful simple, fragrant, exotically, perfumed with the typical peach, apricot and spice notes. Very fine supporting acidity but overall with a soft, easy mouthfeel. Perfect for drinking with or without food as aperitif. (Brilliant winemaking).

Orvalaiz Cabernet Sauvignon (Navarra) 2007

A brilliant rose with exultant fruity aromas and a perfect body. Well balanced, this excellent rose proves long in the mouth, leaving an intense pleasant reminder of its presence

Muga (Rioja) 2008

A deep salmon colour with copper like reflections. Fresh and fruity with intense aroma and the unmistakable character of the Tempranillo grape. A light, silky wine with a subtle bouquet of caramel and jasmine.

Red Wines

Orvalaiz Tempranillo (Navarra) 2007

A brilliant red wine that shows intense aromas of ripe red fruit. Smooth and well rounded with rich red fruit flavours. The finish is long and pleasant.

Vega Ibor (Castilla) 2005

100% Tempranillo. A dry full bodied Rioja styled wine.

Rich red fruits combined with hints of oak, lead to an opulent, spicy finish.

Best Tempranillo Award

Monastrell Tinto Casa Castillo (D.O Jumilla) 2008

The Monastrell grape at its best. Full bodied bags of ripe, red fruit, very intense on the Palate. Long, oaky sensations, very tasty. (Possibly the best from this region)

Can be addictive! P. By Roger Parker

Amant (Toro) 2008

100% Tempranillo (Tinta de Toro) A lively, fruity full bodied and complex wine with spicy aroma and hints of liquorice. Elegant and very harmonious.

Anares Crianza (Rioja) 2006

Cherry red with ruby tones, clean and bright. Open fruity aroma and a balanced bouquet with an excellent hint of oak. Well balanced with a long finish.

Fontal Crianza (Castilla La Mancha) 2006

Powerful with hints of vanilla over a base of jammy dark fruit aromas. It is velvety and full bodied with good intensity and a long and spicy finish.

Cerro Anon Crianza (Rioja) 2005

Dark red with high intensity and sparks of ruby. Initial fruity nose followed by the spicy aromas obtained during the cask ageing process. Its attack is mellow and round with a long finish.

Altun Crianza (Rioja Alavesa) 2006

A lovely, bramble nose. Soft and satisfying. Warm leather on the palate with some caramel and coffee cream over the rich autumn fruit. Excellent balance and good length.

The ultimate expression of the New Spanish Wave

Enrique Mendoza Merlot (Alicante) 2005

On the nose, this wine shows great fruit intensity and spices. On the palate, it is smooth with abundant tannins and a rich black fruit character. The finish is long and pleasant.

Cerro Anon Reserva (Rioja) 2004

Ruby colour with brick tones. Luminous and clear. Excellent harmony of crianza aroma and oak. Fully rich very traditional Rioja

Prado Rey Crianza (Ribera del Duero) 2006

100% Temranillo. Aged for 7 months in American oak and 3 months in French oak. A very harmonious yet complex wine with a unique personality. Subtle hints of vanilla, coconut and cinnamon blend perfectly with the fruit to provide a velvety finish and a delightful aftertaste

Muga Seleccion Especial (Rioja) 2004

70% Tempranillo, 20% Mazuelo and 10% Graciano. Aged for 36 months in oak. A complex and elegant wine. The exquisite aromas are coupled with a delightful fusion of rich ripe fruits. Lively, powerful and elegant with a long spicy finish and an oaky aftertaste.

Prado Enea Gran Reserva (Rioja) 2001

Deep ruby colour with brick hues, becoming distinctly tawny on the rim. On the nose, intense complex aromas: notes of liqueurmixed with hints of leather and damp earth; vanilla and coconut with a background of red berries. Despite being very powerful, Prado Enea remains incredibly delicate and pleasant on the palate. This is a very harmonious wine; silky with notes of leather, cinnamon and vanilla. Very long, distinctive and memorable finish. One of the few classics left

Cavas

Castellblanch Rosado

A delicate rose with a lively sparkle. Aged for 2 years, it delivers a balance of sweet fruit and refreshing acidity, along with a smooth dry finish.

Brut Zero Reserva

Aged in the bottle for three years, an elegant and crisp Cava with a steady steam of fine bubbles. Full flavoured with a dry finish and a lemony nose

Dos Lustros

An outstanding Cava with fine and long lasting bubbles. On the nose, it has delicate fruity aromas with a yeasty character coming from its long ageing. On the palate, it is perfectly balanced and dry with a soft acidity. A sparkling wine with a pleasant long finish. Only produced in best vintages

Excellent New Wines

From six different regions

Prado Rey Verdejo (Rueda) 2008 (White)

Excellent intense aromas of exotic fruit. Full with a long and complex, dry fruity finish. 90 points from Penin guide

Nora (Rias Baixas) 2008 (White)

A complex, warm and fruity albarino. The taste is clean and intense with a long finish. Made to meet internation standards. 92 points from penin guide

Inurrieta Mediodia Rosado (Navarra) 2008 (Rose)

Attractive, very lively pink with fuschia hues. Light and dry. This is fruity and fun to drink. (Warning: can be addictive!)

Peique Tinto Mencia (Bierzo) 2008 (Red)

Medium body. Good fruit, spicy and a good lingering finish

Evohe (Bajo Aragon) 2008 (Red)

An explosive, rich fruit-driven wine which has substantial black fruit flavours, a subtle texture, and very good length. The fresh and smooth tannins are totally integrated. This is old Garnacha at its best

Emilio Moro (Ribera del Duero) 2006 (Red)

Vanilla and balsamic hints coming through with a spiciness derived from 12 months ageing oak. Dry and full bodied, this is an excellent wine made from grapes of old tinto fino vines, by the Emilio Moro family. One of the most reputed bodegas in Pesquera. 92 points from Parker