Tasting five of the best from Torres, Penedès, Spain
At the recent Star Wine List Inspiration Day I tasted through these fine wines from leading Catalunyan producer Torres. They make a wide range of wines including some great value for money supermarket-style bottles (Viña Sol, for example), but they also do high-end terroir wines. These were all really good.
Torres Varietat Recuperada No 23 Forcada 2022 Penedès, Spain
This is one of the recovered varieties that Torres worked on, and it’s really good. Fresh but textural with some green apple and pear fruit. Very expressive and nicely balanced. 93/100
Torres Milmanda Chardonnay 2022 Conca de Barberà, Spain
Things have changed with this wine. 2022 was the first year they didn’t do malolactic fermentation, and they have reduced the ageing time, as well as using foudres in addition to small oak. Fresh and linear with pear and white peach fruit and some stony detail. Really textured with good weight and balance. 94/100
Torres Mas de la Rosa Vinyes Velles Porrera 2020 Priorat, Spain
This is from a single old vineyard and the first wine was made by Torres in 2016. Textured and fine with lovely silkiness, some rose petal and a hint of aniseed as well as textured red berry fruits. Real finesse and tension here. 96/100
Torres Mas La Plana 2020 Penedès, Spain
An excellent vintage for this wine, which was first made in 1970. Cabernet Sauvignon is the grape. Supple and grainy with black cherries and blackcurrant fruit, showing nice weight and complexity. This has some silky texture and shows great balance with real drinkability. You can approach this now, but it will age, too. 96/100
Torres Grans Muralles 2020 Conca de Barberà, Spain
A blend of Garnacha, Cariñena, Querol, Monastrell and Garró. Bold, rich and pure with lovely blackcurrant and black cherry fruit. This has nice density with real depth and weight. Despite the evident richness from this vineyard this is beautifully balanced. 95/100
