Teso la Monja (Familia Eguren) Toro Romanico 2024 750ml

The 2024 Románico was produced with Tinta de Toro grapes from younger vines (10 to 35 years old) from the 72 hectares they have in the villages of Valdefinjas and Toro. 2024 was a year marked by the last 10 days of August, which were very warm (it was hot not only here but throughout Spain), and they had to do extra selection work to eliminate raisins and burnt bunches. But some rain in September (between eight and 23 liters, depending on the zone) refreshed the grapes, and the wines have a little more ripeness, even if the labels tend to mark 14.5%, but this year was more 14.8%, which means between 14.5% and 15%. It fermented in the traditional way, foot trodden and with soft pump-overs, using indigenous yeasts selected from their own vineyards. It matured in used French oak barrels for six months. It’s peachy and tender, developing a clear note of licorice—the vines are getting older; they were planted in 1999, and they are no more than 15 years old—and the wines have more depth, nuance and complexity. It has 14.5% alcohol, a pH of 3.72 and 5.93 grams of acidity, with freshness, and the tannins have a different texture from the wines from Rioja. 75,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in January 2025.