It’s been ten years now since Wine Advocate founder Robert Parker called Toro the one wine region in all the world to watch during the following decade. Since then Parker has been proved a prophet as the makers of legendary Spanish wine Vega Sicilia and million-dollar-a-project consulting oenologist Michel Rolland, among many others have planted their flag in Toro, Spain’s D.O. 50 miles east of Portugal border producing wine that is every bit the peer of heavyweight neighbor Rioja. Vega Sicilia’s Alvarez family makes Spain’s most famous wine and has had their Toro Pintia winery racking up 90+ scores for a decade now. Bordeaux‘s globe-hopping Rolland who consults on Napa’s Harlan and Araujo, Tuscany’s Ornellaia and Pomerol’s L’Evangile has multiple Toro projects going. Toro’s Bodegas Matarredonda has its own stringof 90+ Parker scores. Their 12 acres of 120 year old Tinta de Toro vines, the local clone of Tempranillo, are ungrafted, pre-phylloxera and lower yielding than those of neighboring Rioja or Ribera del Duero, resulting in greater expression and fruit concentration. 2003 Bodegas Matarredonda Libranza is a 100% Tempranillo with notes of vanilla, earth, spice box and blackberry that emerge with time in the glass that is another feather in the cap of winemaker Rosa Zarza. 92 points from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate. This beauty’s huge palate sings with textured, layered dark berry and cherry, licorice and mocha and lush, integrated tannins that give it power now but will reward short term laydown. Another reward? Reduce regular retail of $49.99 by 30% to our price of $34.99. Big, rich world-class reds at a 30% saving your thing? You will love this Libranza.

Tasting Notes: Bodegas Matarredonda’s first vintage was 2001, is off to a quick start. 100% Tinta de Toro, the local clone of Tempranillo. The 2003 Libranza comes from a 12-acre vineyard of pre-phylloxera Tinta de Toro vines ranging in age from 100-140 years. The wine received 14 months in French and American oak. Purple-colored, marked by oak, this wine is a bit ungiving aromatically but with coaxing, notes of vanilla, earth, spice box, and blackberry emerge. On the palate this large-scaled wine has a supple texture, layers of fruit, and plenty of ripe tannin. Everything is in balance and this wine should continue to evolve for at least 4-6 more years and drink well through 2025. Organically grown. Only 500 cases released in U.S.