Hey Everyone,
Tonight I am trying a nifty bottle of Spanish Cabernet Sauvignon from one of the members of the Primum Familiae Vini (First Families of Wine). Familia Torres, a sort of catch all operation making pretty much everything has been called the Starbucks of wine, meaning that you're rarely wow-ed but you'll not find any glaring issues with the product. Essentially, you always know what you will be getting from a bottle of Torres wine.
Torres, being perhaps the only grower with a reputation for it's Cabernet Sauvignon in Spain, is best known for it's cult wine, Mas la Plana, a big, full-on almost Napa-style Cabernet bottled in a Burgundy-shape bottle with an iconic black label. Selling for around £35 a bottle, there are plenty of skeptics for this wine, as it just doesn't fit any defined Spanish style and costs a fair bit.
At a more affordable price, around £12 or so, an entry level Cabernet called Gran Coronas is a nice, full-on Cab, with straightforward varietal characteristics, a good amount of tannin and enough acidity to take on fatty meats. It is an engaging wine that is both classic Cabernet, and definitely Spanish. It has those nice vanilla oak flavours, bright cherry and strawberry aromas; the signature of Spanish red as well as varietal hints of mint and bell pepper which call out Cabernet Sauvignon. Also, there is a hint of maturity with aromas of leather and cedar.
I had this bottle with a beautifully cooked steak with a healthy dose of pepper and garlic and while it worked wonderfully, I would see this wine pairing even better with a leg of duck or a bit of lamb shank. Even on it's own, it is a bloody good bottle of wine for the price, and while I usually don't bother heaping praise on the bigger houses, I do like that Torres has stuck with this variety and found a niche for themselves as the purveyors of Cabernet Sauvignon in Spain. I say good on them and I am happy that this wine presents itself so pleasantly and enjoyably and that I am glad to have another affordable, desireable Cabernet cross my path.
I hope that if you come across a bottle of the Gran Coronas you will give it a try, because it is a good, reliable wine. Also, if you're looking to splash out a bit and go for the Mas la Plana, I can say with confidence that you will be getting a really cool bottle of Cabernet.
Much Love,
G
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