San Román, Toro (Castilla y León, Spain) 2019

 The 2019 rendition of this (consistently outstanding) wine is certainly up to past vintages, and may very well surpass the 2018, which was more open and less oaky when I tasted it in late October of 2021.  I hasten to note that the fruit density of this 2019 is clearly up to the challenge of absorbing its oak load and attaining excellent equilibrium for many years thereafter.  The fact remains that equilibrium will require more time for this wine to attain, so lucky readers who have access to both bottles would be well advised to uncork the 2018 first and hold this in reserve.  It shows spicy, toasty oak notes with suggestions of freshly roasted coffee beans and cocoa powder around a core of intense dark cherry fruit.  Tasted again after the bottle had been standing open and uncorked for 24 hours, the fruit hadn’t dried out at all, and that underlines what a solid bet this is for positive development over time.