2020 Vatan Tinta de Toro

D.O. Toro, SP

The Quick ‘n Dirty

The forgotten king of Tempranillo, Vatan shows the true power of Toro from over 100 year old vines!

Varietals

100% Tempranillo

Tasting Notes

Full-bodied red that marries a pretty range of macerated black raspberry and boysenberry fruit, violet and bay leaf notes with supple tannins and lively orange peel acidity. Shows hints of spices, mineral and graphite that linger on the finish.

The Nerdy Stuff

Sandy loam of sedimentary origins dated back to the end of the Cretaceous period. These are the oldest soils in the Spanish Duero River valley. Two-three meters below the surface, there is a 10-inch-thick layer of red clay. Due to these sandy soils, Toro was the only continental Spanish DO to resist phylloxera completely.

Continental steppe climate, with drastic temperature swings between day and night. The climate is also very dry.

Rigorous sorting is followed by gentle destemming. The whole berries are transferred to 3,000L stainless-steel open vats. Fermentation starts with a pied de cuve, and maceration lasts between 6-8 days. 

Gentle press in a vertical basket press for 8 hours. Primary fermentation finishes and malolactic begins spontaneously in 20% new, 80% used Bordelaise and Burgundian barrique.

The wine rests in the barrel for 20-22 months before bottling.

Producer & Origion 

Bodegas Vatan was founded in 2012. Vatan is a classic expression of Spain's oldest clone of Tempranillo.

Toro was Spain's most famous red winemaking region during the Middle Ages. It was mentioned in literature by Alfonso IX (King of León, 12th c.), Juan Ruiz the Archpriest of Hita, Quevedo, Luis de Góngora, and Miguel de Cervantes. These wines also accompanied Spanish explorers to the new world. D.O. Toro was revitalized in 1997 by Bodega Numanthia-Termes, founded by Jorge Ordóñez and the Eguren family.

Planted in the Finca Los Quemaos in 1900 on ungrafted (original) rootstock. 

Traditional dry farmed viticulture. Practicing organic gobelet (vaso) trained vines, cultivated completely by hand.

Ratings 

96 V, 94 JD