Torres - Cabernet Sauvignon Penedès Gran Coronas Reserva 2019
Price: $29.99
Sale Price: $23.99
| Producer | Torres |
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| Country | Spain |
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| Varietal | Cabernet Sauvignon |
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| Vintage | 2019 |
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| Sku | 17040 |
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| Size | 750ml |
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In 1962, a young Miguel Torres took over his family’s nearly 100-year-old winery. Filled with youthful enthusiasm, the forward-thinking Miguel began experimenting with French grapes in their Penedès vineyards. It’s rumored his Cabernet Sauvignon came from cuttings from Chateau Lafite and La Lagune. (Shockingly, this was quite commonplace back then. The major chateaus weren’t as famous and secretive as they are now.)
In 1970, the first Gran Coronas was made. While his father was quite skeptical, Miguel’s mother was a fan. So much so that in 1979 she encouraged Miguel to submit the 1970 bottling for the Gault-Millau Wine Olympics in Paris. Classic Cabernet Sauvignons from famed chateaus such as Latour and La Mission Haut-Brion were blind-tasted alongside newcomers like Torres.
Guess who won? Yep. Torres! Never doubt a mother’s intuition! With this showing, Torres was launched onto the international stage.
Miguel’s son, Miguel Torres Maczassek, has taken over the reins and continues to carry on the Torres Family legacy. The original Gran Coronas is now named after the vineyard Mas la Plana, with younger vines being used for this wine.
Ok… enough history. What about the wine?
For me, what I find compelling is how “old-school” this wine is. Without passing judgement, I think it is fair to say that most sub-$30 Cabernet Sauvignon, especially from California, come across as… well… quite frankly, a little sweet. Low acidity and higher residual sugar, albeit measured in fractions, have given rise to the category of Cabernet known as “Cocktail Cab”. Again, not passing judgement. There’s a time and a place for everything.
But there are times when I want my dry red wine to be, well, dry. And my Cabernet to taste like what I grew up with. (Sheesh… I am getting old.) While I enjoy the cocktail versions, I find myself yearning for a Cabernet with more “classic” aromas and flavors – brambly red and black currants, whiffs of eucalyptus and mint, black cherry and plum – and a long, dry finish. (As in absence of sugar as well as the presence of tannins).
Torres Gran Coronas delivers what I am looking for, and at a throwback price to boot! Only 30% new oak ensures there is still plant of fruit to go around and the tannins are rounded but not entirely tamed. I love it!
Wine Enthusiast: 91 Points
"This dark-garnet-colored wine has aromas of blackberry and a touch of smoke. It offers a nice equilibrium between velvety tannins and acidity, with flavors of black cherry, cassis, violet and dark chocolate. A burst of orange zest marks the lengthy finish." — Mike DeSimone
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