Wine of the Weeks - 2014 Triton Tinta de Toro

Wine of the Weeks - 2014 Triton Tinta de Toro

SOLD OUT! Trust me folks, if you like deeply colored, chewy, powerful red wines, you are going to love this one.

Triton is the personal project of famed Spanish importer Jorge Ordonez, the man who put the wines of the Toro region on the map. After helping to launch the Numanthia brand, the wine(s) that introduced the world to the wonders of Tempranillo from Toro, Jorge started his own estate. 

Triton Toro

2014 Triton Tinta de Toro

Blockbuster, Old Vine Tempranillo!

SOLD OUT

There is something quite unique about the region of Toro and the clone of Tempranillo that grows there. Known locally as Tinta de Toro, this is the oldest clone of Tempranillo in Spain and it is native to Toro. The extreme growing conditions of the region (dry and hot days, rocky/sandy soils, old vines and low yields) result in wines of massive concentration and structure and deep flavors. Try sipping this one next to a Tempranillo-based wine from Rioja and I guarantee you would never guess that the wines were made from the same grape.

Jorge’s vineyards are located at 2,400 feet in elevation and one parcel was planted in 1956 and the other in 1963. These old vineyards yield just a meager 0.81 tons/acre — trust me, that’s a tiny amount of fruit per acre! After fermentation in stainless steel, it moves to older French oak barrels to complete malolactic fermentation and then is aged for nine months in barrel. The resulting wine is purple/black in color and blasts out of the glass with notes of creme de cassis, blueberry, black cherry, pepper, violet and smoky mineral. As dark and intense as the wine is on the nose, it remains soft, supple, and creamy on the palate.

With the holidays upon us and dinner parties and special meals aplenty, think about this one with standing rib roast, leg of lamb, or a hearty winter stew. For fans of big Cabs and Malbecs, this is your glass of wine, but you’ll struggle to find anything this good for less than $20.

Josh Spurling
Owner, Operator, Wine Monger
Table Wine Asheville