This wine is produced from the single, more than 80 year old, Senda del Lobo vineyard. It is located right next to the winery on the outskirts of San Roman de la Hornija. Soils are composed of limey clay with sand and large stones. Yields are around 15hl/ha. Grapes are selectively hand harvested and sorted again at the winery prior to processing. A 3 day cold soak is followed by alcoholic (14 days) and ML (21 days) in stainless steel tanks. After 12 months in new French oak barrels there is a selection of barrels with selected lots, which comprise this wine seeing an additional 5 months of aging in barrels; a total of 17 months in oak. Fined with egg whites and bottled unfiltered. This wine is “Viki´s soul”, grapes that come from single, unique and very old parcel, made only the exceptional years during which grapes show balance, elegance and freshness above all.
95pts Wine Enthusiast– 2012 vintage
Tightly wound, layered, moderately tannic and oozing excellence, this is a fantastic high-end Toro from the superb 2012 vintage. The minerally, toasty aroma of blackberry is stylish and shows a balsamic note. Flavors of licorice, sweet balsamic vinegar, chocolate and toasty blackberry continue on a long, deep, complex finish. Drink this ace-level red from 2017–2028.
95pts Wine Review Online– 2012 vintage
This is an astonishing wine, but not for the faint of heart. It is hugely impressive, with “huge” being the most important element in that clause. Still nearly black in color and opaque in pigmentation at 6 years of age, it is phenomenally rich and concentrated. Aromas of baking spices and subtle woodsmoke are quite appealing, but then the sheer intensity and power of the wine just kick down the door and the wild ride begins. Those who think Tempranillo (or Tinta de Toro, as it is called in this region) just makes light- or medium-bodied wines will be set straight permanently by this bottling, which as actually “thick” in texture, as in milkshake thick. Flavors of blackberries, cassis and black cherry are very intense but not remotely obvious or over-ripe, and though there’s a lot of bracing from oak, the wood accents definitely overwhelmed by the fruit’s sheer strength. You could enjoy this now with decanting and a grilled steak, but it will be better in another 5 years and undoubtedly can hang on or even improve for a full decade from now. What a wine!
93pts Vinous– 2012 vintage
Brilliant ruby. Complex, intensely perfumed bouquet evokes ripe red fruits, incense, mocha and exotic spices, with a bright mineral overtone. Sweet and incisive on the palate, offering sappy, vivacious raspberry and lavender pastille flavors. In a seamless, graceful style, with a pliant, gently tannic finish emphatically echoing the floral quality. Made from fruit grown in a 70+-year-old vineyard, this wine was aged in new French for 17 months. 2020 – 2026.
