Teso la Monja Almirez Toro 2010

Teso la Monja 2010 Almirez Toro, Spain | Almost Amarone like in that liqueured, dark cherry profile. It is full bodied powerhouse of dense and dark fruit and fine silty tannins. This is the structure and body that not only lasts and evolves in one’s cellar but expresses a strength that somehow never wearies –it’s like those indefatigable sailors that carry on despite whatever hurling sea or rough weather nature throws their way. In this vein and amusing for table talk, is how in 1492 Christopher Columbus brought Toro wines to bolster his endeavor when he first ventured to America. As history shows, one of Isabel la Católica’s confesores was a friar named Diego de Deza of Zamora who helped finance this voyage which is why he was invited to name the renowned Pinta, the 60 ton caravel that joined the larger and slower Niña and Santa María. Ironically the Pinta was named Pint after the liquid measurement but it turns out the Pinta carried considerably more than a pint of wine –as half of its cargo was wine from Toro. It seems deep reds from northwestern Spain fortify sailors after all.
Wine review by Nicholas Livingston, March 7, 2014 (Root)

Food Pairings

Very versatile. The better cuts of lamb. Most any meat braised or stewed. Game birds and poultry, especially duck.