Wine Region: Catalunya

(2021) Here's a wine from Catalunya in the northeast of Spain, where the Tempranillo and Grenache grapes local to the area are joined by Cabernet Sauvignon. You can think Gran Reserva Rioja as a reference point, this 2010 having spent eight years bottle age after a full three years in oak barrels. There is a soft brick colour on the rim, and the wine does show maturity, some autumnal dried leaf and more oxidative dried blood notes among the still bold berry fruits. The American oak adds its characteristic vanilla, spice and even a hint of mint. At £9.45 this will go down really well with lovers of old school Rioja in particular, the palate velvety and smooth with unruffled sweet fruit, though there is balance here too. Personally, I'd be drinking this over the short term, but like many of the old school Riojas, it could also prove to be indestructible!

(2021) Torres' premium Chardonnay wine comes from their high altitude vineyards in Conca de Barbera in Penedes. There is beautiful poise here, just the merest background hint of mineral flint, but a succulent but controlled fruit ripeness and fat lemon rind quality. On the palate a similarly poised and elegant character, the fruit ripe but clean, dry and savoury, a touch of almond oak just adding weight against the tangy and fresh acidity.

(2021) A pale peachy-pink, the main advantage Torres wine has over some of the other Spanish attempts at this style are the grapes used: Carignan and Grenache, two of the mainstays of Provence wines too. Very light, very commercially appealing raspberry and rose-hip aromas, a little bit watercolour paintbox, then a palate that has some sweetness and possibly a touch of residual sugar, but plenty of lemony acidity keeps that in check. It is light-bodied and arguably a touch dilute even for a rosé, but flavours and balance are good.

(2021) The original and classic Spanish red, in production since the 1950s and still with a small plastic bull attached (though these days it's an eco-friendly plastic). It's a blend of mostly Grenache with Carignan. A little darker in colour than Running with Bulls, there's a plum jam note on the nose, perhaps also a little darker in character, a little leather baked in there too. Equally sweet fruited on the palate, the style is remarkably similar really with copious ripe fruits, creamy background tannins and soft acidity for crowd-pleasing appeal.

(2020) An absolute classic, made by the Torres family in Spain since the 1950s and yes, don't worry, still with a small eco-friendly plastic bull attached, despite the fact this is now under screwcap and thoroughly modern in style. It's a blend of 65% Grenache with 35% Carignan, and has a enjoyale blend of copious, sweet, buoyant red and black fruits that really brough a smile to my face, along with a bit of rustic grip adding some lovely mouthfeel and food friendliness. There's a litte spice, and little briarwood but it finishes balanced and fruity. Watch the video for more information and food matching ideas.

(2018) A de-alcoholised wine from Torres, made using technology to remove the alcohol from a 'normal' wine, this presses very nice Muscat buttons aromatically, light, floral and herbal, and fairly indistinguishable from a regular Muscat wine. The same can't be said for the palate however, but it's not an entirely negative picture: it feels lightly effervescent in the mouth, more fruit-juicy than winey, but it is off-dry, balanced and enjoyable in its way.

(2017) This organically certified wine comes from a small appellation high in the northeast of Spain, close to the French border at the Roussillon, and from an estate that can trace its family ownership back 1000 years. It's mostly Merlot, but with 10% of Piquepoul Noir, the dark skinned variant of the familiar Picpoul variety. Aged in French oak (50% new), it pours a bold purple colour and is instantly expressive with a bright balsamic and cherry nose, lots of lift and fragrance, a touch of basil, a touch of sweet plum. On the palate it has good energy: medium-bodied and with a silkiness, there is good acidity perhaps due to the high altitude vineyards, the bittersweet tartness of plum skins, and a fruity, gently spicy finish. Watch the video for more information and food matching ideas.

(2017) A new wine from Miguel Torres of Spain, coming from the home vineyards in Catalunya and blending white Grenache with Xarel.lo, one of the main grapes of Cava (making still wines from Cava grapes is something of a mini-trend among Catalunyan producers currently). This is also certified organic and made in a very clean, fresh style, the gently tropical fruit notes wrapped with a very gentle creaminess, before a crisp, crunchy apple and citrus palate, again just a glimpse of papaya or Ogen melon adding a dry but exotic, subtle tang.

(2016) I detect a little creamy oak influence (or is it just a richness from lees ageing perhaps?), but it is aromatic with orange and crisp autumn apple tones, a hint of nuttiness then juicy on the palate, a fresh core of lemony acidity, melon and more tangy citrus in the dry, refreshing finish.

(2016) From a small collective of four farmers, working indigenous vines planted by their ancestors in the northeat of Spain, this is 100% Xarel.lo, one of the principle varieties in Cava, and just occasionally popping up in table wines. This has a punchy, slightly sherbetty nose of crisp nutty apple and lime, a touch of lime blossom too, a hint of Epsom salts. On the palate it is just as vivacious, crackling over the tongue quite delightfully, long and racy with citrus and salt in the finish. A delight, and packed with character.