Abelis Carthago, Toro (Castilla y León, Spain) 2008

The 2008 vintage one was excellent in north-central Spain, and it is a bit of a surprise to see an excellent one such as this still in circulation as the current release. I don’t know what explains that, but after a few sips of this wine, I didn’t much care to look a gift horse in the mouth. The wine shows rich, meaty texture with dark berry flavors and a spicy backnote. Wines from Toro are famed for power, and this one doesn’t disappoint on that score, but it also shows exceptional balance and integration, making the wine seem more like a thoroughbred than a bull.