Teso La Monja Toro - Almirez 2022

The Eguren family of Teso la Monja are one of D.O. Toro's most important pioneers, having cofounded Bodega Numanthia-Termes with Jorge Ordóñez in 1997. Numanthia was the first exhaustive fine wine project to resuscitate Toro since before phylloxera. Toro is one of Spain's most historic winemaking regions. Tempranillo originated in the Duero Valley, and many ampelographers believe that it originated in Toro, where it is known as Tinta de Toro. These ancient clones of Tempranillo were responsible for Toro being celebrated as Spain's finest winemaking region during the Middle Ages. Toro was also Spain's only region to completely resist phylloxera due to its sandy soils. Teso la Monja is the Eguren family's new interpretation of Toro, where they sought to produce a more refined and restrained expression of Toro by focusing on northern facing vineyard sites planted on clay soils covered in canto rodado.Practicing organic dry farmed viticulture with certain selective biodynamic practices. Almirez is sourced exclusively from estate vineyards trained primarily as head-trained goblet vines. Some of the younger sites are planted on high density trellises.

Practicing organic dry farmed viticulture with certain selective biodynamic practices. Almirez is sourced exclusively from estate vineyards trained primarily as head-trained goblet vines. Some of the younger sites are planted on high density trellises.

14 months in French barrique, 30% new, 70% second use.

“The 2022 Almirez is 100% Tinta de Toro from several vineyards in Toro. It was aged for 14 months in 30% new and 70% used French oak. Deep garnet in color, the wine opens with balsamic and spicy aromas, joined by a hint of jam and red fruit typical of Toro’s ripeness. The palate is rich, with active but well-handled tannins, a slightly tight mid-palate and a long finish. A wine of energy and well-judged ripeness without overextraction—remarkable for the region.” - 95 Points, Vinous

“The 2022 Almirez checks in as 100% Tinta de Toro that's all from vines planted between 1955 and 2000. This darker, full-bodied effort has loads of ripe red and black fruits as well as spice, herbs, chocolate, and graphite-like aromas and flavors. It's plush and mouth-filling, with great purity and fine tannins, all making for a brilliant bottle of wine.” - 94 Points, Jeb Dunnuck

The 2022 Almirez has fruit and structure and is perfumed and aromatic, with notes of fennel and aniseed. It has a juicy, round and fleshy palate with tannins that are fine and more polished tannins than in the wine from Rioja, as the vineyards are more adapted to the warm and dry conditions. In 2022, they aged it in French oak barrels, 30% of them new, for 14 months.This is possibly the most structured of the range.” - 93 Points. Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate 

Producer: Teso La Monja

Country: Spain

Region: Castilla y León

Varietal: Tempranillo

Appellation: Toro

Vintage: 2022

Size: 750ml