Ribera del Duero

Cillar de Silos Torresilo 2003

I've been lucky enough to have a look at the 03 and 04 vintages of Torresilo side by side over the last couple of days.  I had a bottle of the 03 late last year, but it was corked.  This time around, no cork issues and this bottle certainly lived up to expectations.  As a bonus, the guys at Cillar de Silos now have their website in English as well.

Torresilos is the "super premium/Luxury" wine in the Cillar de Silos range and is made from the fruit off their oldest vines grown in the sandy clay based soils of the eastern most part of Ribera del Duero.  Like most areas of Spain the vines here are grown en vaso or goblet style.  We generally say bush vines here in Australia.  Interestingly they list three different soil types for the vineyards as a source of additional complexity for their wines.  The wine sees 16 months in mostly new French oak.  Some of the free-run juice from this wine also goes into their Rosado for added oomph.

Very dark royal purple in colour with deep ruby edge.  The aroma really barrels out of the decanter with mulberry, mocha coffee, brambly undergrowth, some ripe cherry, pepper and a minerally edge.  A bit of musk pops in now and then.  Really well balanced with just the right amount of acid with loads of soft chalky tannins.  Savoury ripe fruit, mulberry and dark cherry with cola, liquorice and light chocolate.  The finish is very long with a lick of minerals.  This is right up there with Alion and Flor de Pingus for me.  Drinking really well now and should do for at least 10 years.  95 Pts.

Source: The Spanish Acquisition Cost: $120 Closure: Conventional Cork

Web: www.cillardesilos.es