Torres Viña Sol 2005

Parellada.  No its not a type of pasta, its a grape variety native to north eastern Spain that is used for both still and sparkling wines.  You may have heard of it if you drink a bit of Cava.  Torres Viña Sol is made from 100% Parellada, fermented in stainless steal to produce a fresh, lightly fruity wine that is easy to drink and enjoy.  I've heard some good things about the next wine up in the range, the Gran Vina Sol, which adds 15% Chardonnay and oak treatment, I will have to track some down.

A light nose of white, orchard fruits, apple and pear, with a note of spice.  Its fresh and fruity in the mouth, refreshing and easy to drink.  More apple with some pineapple and a touch of fennel seeds and minerals in the mouth. Very well balanced for a wine of this price, the acid it just right, you could drink buckets of this on a hot day.  Match it up with some fish on the BBQ, find somewhere nice to sit outside on a hot day and you'd be very happy.  85 Pts.

Source: Importer Sample Price: $15-$17 Closure: Screwcap

Web: www.torres.es

Importer: Negociants Australia

Torres Sangre de Toro 2004

The newly released Sangre de Toro found its way to my desk the other day and I though 'I'll save this for a nice cool night'.  Well the next day it was snowing on the Dandenongs (for those in the northern hemisphere, it is apparently two weeks to summer here in Melbourne), time to crack this open then.

As always, Sangre de Toro is made from mostly Garnarcha, with some Cariñena and is a soft, textural wine with plenty of fruit flavours.  The 2004 is really well balanced and has some great fruit, I am really liking the 04s I have tried so far.

The nose opens up right away, fresh raspberry and spice to start with, a slight herb note shows it self with more air.  The first thing that hits you when you take a sip is the lovely texture, very smooth and moreish.  Really well balanced for drinking now, the fruit shows its stuff with with blueberry and blackberry, more spice and roast meat notes.   Very good for drinking over the next couple of years if you can hang on it, I'd go for a good tomato based pasta dish.  A slight step up on the 03.  87 Pts.

Source: Importer Sample Price: $15-$17 Closure: Screwcap

Web: www.torres.es

Importer: Negociants Australia

Torres de Casta Rosado 2004

It was another warm day in Melbourne yesterday, so I though it was time to crack open a rosado (Spanish for pink, better known as rose).  I think pink wines are some of the best food wines getting around, they are fresh, crisp and match well with complex foods without overpowering them. They usually have a good wack of acid which helps to clean up any oily bits of food etc.  If you head to Spain, or in fact many Mediterranean areas, you'll see heaps of people drinking the stuff with their lunch.  There should be more of it here in Aus. This style of dry rose from Spain is a killer in the price stakes as well, very good for 14 bucks.

This rosado is basically a rose version of Sangre de Toro, it is made from a mix of grenacha and cariñena.  The wine is a brilliant cherry red in colour, with a nose of strawberry and some floral notes.  A bit spritzy in the mouth, bone dry, with some red  cherry, strawberry and some bitter herb notes.  Black pepper and a good hit of acid on the finish make this a really good food wine.  I'd drink it with a range of foods, but a good paella of chicken, pork, maybe even a bit of rabbit would be a great match. 87 Pts

Source: Winestar Price: $13.95 Closure: Screwcap

Web: www.torres.es

Torres Sangre de Toro 2003

This is the wine I wanted to review last friday.  Yes, it is a bit cliche but the ol' Sangre de Toro is a classic wine from North Eastern Spain.  In its favour it is a bloody good imported wine for $15, it comes in screwcap and is highly gluggable.  Its not going to knock your socks off, but I think most people would be happy to drink a bottle or two with a pizza at home on a Friday night.

Sangre de Toro is made from Grenacha and Cariñena with a dollop of Syrah for good measure.  There is no mention of oak, it is not really noticeable in the wine.  This is certainly one of those wines that says "stop being a wine snob and have a bit of a laugh".

Quite a heady nose showing raspberry and other red fruits with a bit of spice.  Moving on to full bodied, but quite restrained and approachable.  Darker fruits in the mouth, blackberry and dark cherry with some more spice and some added roast meats.   Obviously made for easy drinking, I find the nice texture and balance really help you get through a couple of glasses in a flash. 86 Pts.

Source: Retail Price: $15 Closure: Screwcap

Web: www.torres.es

Torres Coronas 2003

Just a quick note on this one.  The Torres wines are another one of those wines that just about everyone knows, kind of like Penfolds in Australia.  They make wine at all levels, but they are best known in Australia for this one and Sangre de Toro.  Many of their wines come in screwcap, this one was under cork.

Coronas is made from mostly Tempranillo with a bit of Cabernet, there is no mention of oak but there seems to be a bit of oak influence in the wine.

A good nose of red currents and strawberries, a hint of smoke and oak with an earthy undertone.  Straight forward in the mouth, ripe red berries with some herb and more of the smokey oak flavours.  The tannins are in control and develop a bit of velvet in the glass.  Very glugable with a good pizza or pasta.  85 Pts.

Source: Retail Price: $15 Closure: Conventional Cork

Web: www.torres.es