„The second wine in the price hierarchy is the 2017 Almirez, produced with vines aged 10 to 35 years old from their 72 hectares of vineyards in the villages of Valdefinjas and Toro. It fermented in stainless steel and matured in French oak barrels, 30% of them new, the rest second use, for 14 months. 2017 is one of the driest years with one of the earliest harvests ever, but surprisingly enough, the wines feel lighter, fresh and aromatic, expressive and open and do not show any heat. Furthermore, it feels like a fresher year in the sense that the wine integrates the oak quite well. The change here, as Marcos Eguren explained, has been in the toast of the barrels, something they started in 2015; they have lighter toasts, from a long and slow toasting of the oak, and the barrel respects the fruit a lot more. Fine-tuning continues... 95,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in April 2019.”

Teso la Monja is the second project created by the Eguren family of Rioja after they sold Numanthia to LVMH. They now produce 300,000 bottles split into five different labels. I tasted mostly 2016s and 2017s, two very different vintages. There was no frost in 2017, which was warm and dry and one of the earliest harvests on record. But the wines are incredibly fresh and balanced, I'm tempted to say fresher than the 2016s... Analytically they have lower alcohol and higher acidity. We shall see...

„This dense red delivers ripe blackberry and currant flavors, with mocha, licorice and loamy earth notes. Firm tannins support the thick texture. Powerful yet balanced, in the modern style. Drink now through 2025. 1,000 cases made.” 

„Brilliant ruby. Powerful, deep-pitched dark berry, cherry and cola scents are lifted by lively floral and mineral flourishes. Coats the palate with sappy blackberry and bitter cherry flavors that show excellent clarity, complicated by fruitcake, licorice and vanilla nuances. Lingers with superb intensity on a spice- and mineral-driven finish that echoes the dark berry and vanilla notes.”

„A graphite note and the essence of fine oak sit nicely atop a nose defined by blackberry, prune and raisin aromas. A tight palate qualifies as direct, while this Toro cruiserweight tastes of toasty oaky black fruits and pepper. A spicy dry finish doesn't waver, and this Tinta de Toro will age well; drink through 2027.”

„Slightly more expensive, the 2017 Almirez is all all Tinta de Toro yet spent 14 months in 30% new French oak. Deep purple-hued, it offers a gorgeous perfume of black raspberries, cassis, toasted spices, candied violets, and spicy oak. Like most 2017s, it has the aromatics of a sunny year yet stays surprisingly light and lively on the palate, with medium to full-bodied richness, moderate, polished tannins, and a great finish. It's beautifully done and well worth enjoying over the coming 4-6 years, if not longer.”

Fachpressebewertungen Jahrgang 2014