Teso la Monja Romanico 2019
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Robert
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Wilfred
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Jeb
Dunnuck
Product Details
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Winemaker Notes
Romanico is the entry level wine from Bodegas Teso La Monja. It is expressive, direct, and accessible, while still representing the varietal character of Tinta de Toro and the unique terroir of D.O. Toro. One of the finest values from D.O. Toro.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The entry-level red is the 2019 Románico, produced with Tinta de Toro (a.k.a. Tempranillo) from younger vines (10 to 25 or 30 years old, some of them grafted) in the villages of Valdefinjas and Toro. It fermented in a traditional way, foot trodden and with soft pumping overs, with indigenous yeasts selected from their own vineyards and matured in used French oak barrels for an average of six to eight months, as some wine is kept in stainless steel and other lots are aged in barrel for longer. This is primary and fruit-driven (black fruit), with purity and something floral; it's juicy and tender, with ripe, round tannins and a soft, caressing mouthfeel. It's clean and balanced with neatly integrated oak. This is a fresher style of 2015, perhaps more like 2011, which was dry in the region but not very warm, like 2019.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2020 Teso Romanico is bright and balanced. TASTING NOTES: This wine offers aromas and flavors of licorice and spice. Pair it with savory meat stews. (Tasted: August 27, 2022, San Francisco, CA)
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Jeb Dunnuck
All Tempranillo, the 2019 Romanico gives up a juicy, forward, sweetly fruited, and medium to full-bodied style as well as ample berry fruits and notes of peppery herbs, and spice. It's a balanced, high-quality barbecue wine that will offer ample pleasure over the coming 3-4 years. Best After 2022
Other Vintages
2021-
James
Suckling
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Robert
Parker
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James
Suckling -
Wilfred
Wong -
Jeb
Dunnuck
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James
Suckling -
Jeb
Dunnuck -
Robert
Parker
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James
Suckling -
Jeb
Dunnuck -
Robert
Parker
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Jeb
Dunnuck
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Robert
Parker
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Robert
Parker
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Robert
Parker
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Robert
Parker
Teso La Monja was founded in 2007 by Marcos and Miguel Angel Eguren, the fourth winemaking generation of the Eguren family from San Vicente de la Sonsierra in Rioja Alavesa. As they have been growing Tempranillo in Rioja Alavesa since the late 1800’s, the Eguren family fell in love with D.O. Toro when they first travelled there with Jorge Ordóñez, seduced by the region’s original clone of Tempranillo and ungrafted vines.
Jorge Ordóñez and the Eguren family were the original founders of Bodegas Numanthia, which was responsible, along with their current work, for the resurrection of D.O. Toro as one of Spain’s preeminent wine regions. After the sale of Numanthia in 2007, the Eguren family founded Teso La Monja as a new challenge for the family – finding the elegance in the wines of Toro.
The family selected vineyards in the northernmost part of D.O. Toro that have a much higher proportion of rounded stones than what is typical. This produces extremely silky, elegant wines. The winemaker, Marcos Eguren, is considered by many to be the finest winemaker in Spain. His son, Eduardo Eguren, the fifth generation, also works as the winemaker at Teso La Monja.
Notoriously food-friendly, long-lasting and Spain’s most widely planted grape, Tempranillo is the star variety of red wines from Rioja and Ribera del Duero. The Rioja terms Joven, Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva indicate both barrel and bottle time before release. Traditionally blended in Rioja with Garnacha, plus a bit of Mazuelo (Carignan) and Graciano, the Tempranillo in Ribera del Duero typically stands alone. Somm Secret—Tempranillo claims many different names depending on location. In Penedès, it is called Ull de Llebre and in Valdepeñas, goes by Cencibel. Known as Tinta Roriz in Portugal, Tempranillo plays an important role in Port wine.
Spain's remote, high elevation Spanish wine zone between the regions of Bierzo and Ribera del Duero produces intense, full-bodied reds made from Tempranillo, locally called Tinta de Toro. This local variant has adapted to the region’s climatic extremes and recognizing its potential, top producers from Ribera del Duero and Rioja have invested heavily in its vineyards.