(2024) I found this unoaked Macabeu Viognier blend from the Costers del Segre in northeastern Spain to be a delightful wine. There's a hint of spearmint intensity to the bright, apple and lime leaf-scented wine that has a lemon-sherbet shimmering freshness. Sweetly ripe on the palate, but that crunchy and zippy apple and citrus is swept up in the tangy zing of the acidity in the finish. Watch my
video review for more information.
(2023) This blend of Carignan, Grenache and Shiraz comes from Costers de Segre in northern Spain, a place of high altitude, little rain and scorching heat. Hence the name. The wine spends nine to 12 months in French oak, 30% new barrels each year. herbs and dried fruits are the initial impression, some intriguing clove-like spicing and lots of subtle perfume moving from baked plum to floral notes. In the mouth this has quite a singular style: the fruit is relatively high-toned and very much in the red spectrum, elevated acidity and tight, firm but smooth tannins all giving an impression of a wine singing in the upper register, while the background oak spice just grounds the whole picture. An interesting wine try with something like grouse or pigeon perhaps.
(2021) This is Torres' single vineyard wine from Costers del Segre in Penedès, known for its arid, extreme climate and harsh conditions. It is a blend of Garnacha, Carinena and Syrah, aged in French oak (40% new) for 18 months. Dark crimson in colour, there's a classy graphite edge to plummy black fruit, a little vanilla softens the picture. In the mouth it is concentrated and quite intense, the black fruit juicy and sweet-edged, but darker, toast and mocha notes fill in. Tannins are fine but firm and the acid balance, like plum and cherry skins, is good.
(2014) >From Catalonia this 12.5% alcohol white is a blend of between five and nine each year, including Macabeo, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling and Albarino. Beautifully perfumed and ripe, with a Riesling and Sauvignon character driving the aromas, a touch of beeswax, a touch of elderflower, and plenty of punch. On the palate there's a lovely mouth-filling sweet fruit. The layering of this wine is lovely, with mineral notes adding to the dry juiciness, but no shortage of sweet and ripe, rounded flavours persisting to the end.
(2010) >From the Costers del Segre region, high in northeast Spain close to the French border, this is an unusual blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Carignan and Marselan (the latter a cross of Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache, now quite common in the Languedoc). It is aged in new French oak barrels. The nose has a swirling, enticing, Sandalwood and cassis density with a little lift of kirsch and very ripe blueberry fruit. On the palate this is a big, fruit-packed wine with a creamy, balsamic richness, the smooth, fragrant and spicy oak adding layered depth and the tannins overtly chocolaty and dense. It is big and bold, but there is good balance in a showy but successful style. At the mixed case price it will have considerable appeal.
