2019 San Roman (750ml)

Tempranillo from Toro, Spain

B-21 Top Recommendation
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From the legendary winemaker of Vega Sicilia, the powerful 93 pt. 2019 San Roman offers bright, juicy fruit hinting of graphite and vanilla spice layered with fresh acidity and abundant fine tannins destined to evolve over time, “a stellar example of Toro” according to critic John Gilman and one of the region’s most outstanding values.

Beginning his career as winemaker for Vega Sicilia at the age of 24, the pioneering Mariano Garcia recognized the potential of the Toro region when he established Bodegas Pintia for Vega Sicilia in the mid-1980's, eventually partnering with his sons Alberto and Eduardo after leaving Vega Sicilia and founding his family’s own Toro project in Pedrosa del Rey in 1995. Spread across a diverse range of terroirs in San Roman de Hornija, Villaester and Morales de Toro, the estate’s 130 hectares of organically farmed vineyards consist mainly of the local clone of Tempranillo called Tinta de Toro, the ungrafted bush vines averaging over 40 years of age with some ranging up to 100 and planted in a mix of stones and sand over Toro’s dense iron-rich clay subsoil that imparts distinct minerality and naturally limits yields. Crafted from 100% Tempranillo, winemaker Eduardo Garcia fermented the grapes in stainless steel with indigenous yeasts and then aged the muscular 2019 San Roman in a mix of about a third new 225 and 500 liter French and American oak barrels for 24 months, revealing “impressive concentration and a graceful and structured personality” that’s a signature of the Garcia style according to Vinous critic Josh Raynolds.

Described by the Wine Advocate’s Luis Gutierrez as “one of the few wines from Toro that actually improves with time in bottle” along with Vega Sicilia's Pintia albeit at a fraction of the price, the impressive 93 pt. 2019 San Roman is meticulously crafted as a terroir-expressive, old vine Tempranillo expertly balancing power and finesse, ready for Toro fans and lovers of robust Spanish reds to enjoy its promising evolution at an outstanding value price.

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This time I also tasted two vintages of their flagship and eponymous wine, starting with the 2019 San Román, from a warm and dry vintage that resulted in an early harvest that started the 6th of September in San Román de Hornija. It comes from a selection of over 40-year-old ungrafted and head-pruned vines on stony soils with clay and limestone in different villages of the appellation. It fermented in stainless steel with indigenous yeasts and matured in new and used 225- and 500-liter French and American oak barrels for 24 months. The wine feels quite marked by the élevage in oak, and the 14.5% alcohol seems to have extracted quite a lot of aromas and tannins from the barrels. It's warm and heady, ripe and voluptuous, with abundant but fine tannins and mellow acidity. 112,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in February 2020.

93 points, Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate (Jan 2023)

This dark garnet-colored wine offers a nose of cherry preserves and anise. Juicy at first sip, it has flavors of pomegranate and cherry alongside notes of butterscotch, milk chocolate and orange zest. Tannins sneak onto the palate and linger into the enduring finish.

93 points, Mike DeSimone, Wine Enthusiast (May 2023)

This elegant red draws you into the glass with enticing aromas and flavors of ripe and macerated black cherry and black raspberry fruit, dark chocolate and Mediterranean herbs. Sculpted tannins and lively acidity trim and firm the flavor range. Long and finely knit, this echoes the herb, spice and mineral accents on the finish. Tinta de Toro. Drink now through 2030. 10,000 cases made, 1,000 cases imported.

92 points, Alison Napjus, Wine Spectator (Oct 2022)

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$39.98

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