The grapes come from the vineyards having belonged to Elias Mora, which he cultivated for 40 years and for whom the wine is named. The vines are a Tempranillo clone that yields small berries and is planted on small slopes with rocky soil. Harvested at the end of September. The wine was fermented in small stainless steel tanks for 22 days. After the malolactic fermentation, the wine was aged for 12 months in American and French oak barrels. Clarification with egg whites was done before bottling. The wine was bottled without filtration or stabilization.
93pts Wine Review Online– 2016 vintage
Although this terrific Crianza release will ultimately outlive and probably surpass the 2017 Tinto from Elias Mora, it is only barely the better wine in the near term except for those who love oak spice and expect it from their Spanish reds. To be clear, though, the oak is beautifully measured to accent the fruit, which is itself so rich and sappy that it can easily handle the spicy, toasty notes without being overwhelmed. Indeed, the core of fruit is so concentrated and compelling that I’m tempted to write “bloody” rather than “sappy,” as the rich texture and salty undertones really do taste like a bloody lip in the wake of one of the pond hockey fights of my youth. Not everyone would like that simile, of course, but the Spanish know a bit about bull’s blood…which is surely what this region was named for in the Middle Ages, rather than bulls themselves. Terrific now with food but really crafted for a decade’s worth of cellaring, you can use it according to your preferences and hit the mark either way.
92pts Washington Wine Blog– 2016 vintage
The 2016 Elias Mora ‘Crianza’ Toro is a fabulous value from this mountainous region. Toasty oak wraps around the core of dark currants, pipe tobacco and leather tones on the nose. The palate has wonderful freshness and verve, with a silky texture. Layers of dark fruits dance with bchpcoate and minerals with smoky undertones. Every bit outstanding, this beautiful ‘Crianza’ Toro will cellar well for a decade or more. Drink 2020-2030.
88+pts View from the Cellar– 2016 vintage
The Crianza bottling from Elias Mora hails from vines that are a bit older than the Descartes below, but these are not at elevation and do not have a northerly exposition, so they realize a bit more octane and the 2016 version comes in listed at a full fifteen percent alcohol. The wine does not see any new wood, but is raised in a fifty-fifty mix of American and French barrels that are “one wine-old”. The 2016 offers up a deep, ripe and surprisingly fresh nose of black cherries, sweet dark berries, balsamic overtones, cigar ash and a nice touch of oak. On the palate the wine is full-bodied, plump and nicely light on its feet for fifteen percent octane, a good core, slightly coarse tannins and good length and grip on the slightly warm finish. Not bad in its idiom. 2023-2040.
