Talking Pais with Miguel Torres Jr


Miguel Torres Santa Digna Estelado Rosé Sparkling NV, Secano Interior*, Chile (£14.49 Cambridge Wines, Telford Wines, The Wine Store, Windermere Wine Stores, Roberts & Speight)
Crisp, gentle style, with plenty of fresh strawberry flavour and a lightly dusty, even sandy edge to the finish. (B+)

Miguel Torres Reserva de Pueblo Pais 2013, Secano Interior*, Chile (£10.49 Bonafide Wines, Grape & Grain, Templar Wines, Stewart Wines, Sandhams Wines)
Just 12.5% alcohol, but still has a heady, fragrant character, almost like a rustic Pinot Noir, with juicy strawberry flavours, a lightly meaty edge and a vibrant finish. S

* The definition of Secano Interior? Er, pass… The closest you’ll get is that it’s the drylands (hence the Sec- bit) of central-southern Chile between the coastal range and the Andes, and in vineyard terms, it stretches from Maule down to Bío-Bío.

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While I was with Miguel, I also tasted the following:
Torres ‘Verdeo’ Verdejo 2013, Rueda, Spain (£9.49 Mitchell’s Vintners, Reid Wines, Wilks & Co)
(This is made in the ex-Lurton Brothers’ winery)
Really nice balance between juiciness and pithy restraint, with musky pear and greengage flavours and a lovely texture. S-

Torres Fransola 2013, Penedès, Spain (£21.99 C&D Wines, Matthew Clark)
(mostly Sauvignon Blanc with a splash of Parellada)
Starts off a little oaky, but then fleshy fruit – passionfruit, quince, very ripe lemon – kicks in, along with floral nuances and a hint of vanilla. B+

Torres Celeste Ribera del Duero Crianza 2011, Spain (£14.99 Cambridge Wines, Hailsham Wines, Portland Wines, Tanners Wines, Vintage House)
I like the honest earthy berry and plum fruit and the meaty overtones, but the warmth of the vintage and region comes through in slightly harsh tannins. B+

Torres Mas la Plana Cabernet Sauvignon 2010, Penedès, Spain (£40.99 Vintage Marque)
Takes the rich red and dark berry and blackcurrant of Cabernet and adds in some of the dusty wildness of Spain. Warm and welcoming, slightly toasty oak still showing, but overall balanced and classy, with a plush finish. S+

And look out in coming years for Torres to release a Rioja Reserva plus further Spanish wines from Toro and Jumilla, a premium Cava (a blend of traditional grapes plus Chardonnay & Pinot Noir), and a Chilean Pinot Noir from slate-rich soils in Empedrado in Coastal Maule.


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