The Farina family’s 350 hectare estate is right in the heartland of this high altitude northern region, just east of Ribera Del Duero. The average age of the vines is 40 years, but some are as old as 140 years! The dominant grape is the Tinta de Toro; never heard of it? That’s not surprising – it is the local name for Tempranillo. The Spanish don’t make things easy for us poor folk do they?
“Manuel Farina’s wines are beautifully made, packed with fruit and probably the best Toro has to offer” The late, great John Radford in his must have opus The New Spain.
Anyway…..enough about this superb winery. Here are the new wines on the list…..
COLEGIATA MALVASIA 2012
A crisp, aromatic dry white with heaps of ripe fruit flavours with pears and apples in the background. A little like Pinot Grigio, but with more sophistication.
COLEGIATA ROSADO 2012
100% Tinta de Toro. A full flavoured deeply coloured Pinko with heaps of intense raspberry & cherry flavours. A great ‘food rosé’ – ideal with our salads, but also brilliant on its own.
GRAN COLEGIATA ‘ROBLE FRANCES’ CRIANZA 2008
Soft, smooth and serious. Aged in French oak for 11 months. “Modern in style with great balance and elegance between fruit and oak.” says Manuel. We say “Arguably one of the best value red wines on our list”.
GRAN COLEGIATA RESERVA 2005
Superb Spanish in a more traditional style. Top quality fruit aged in American oak for 18 months has produced luxuriant yet restrained flavours with cherries, vanilla and black pepper spice vying for attention like adolescent teenagers!
“GRAN COLEGIATA CAMPUS” 2003 VINAS VIEJAS
One of the country’s greats! Is this Spain’s version of Grange?
A limited production from selected 140 year old bush vines. 15 months in new French oak. Gloriously complex intense cherry and red berry flavours with an ethereal spicy, smoky oak finish which lingers…..and lingers. Wonderful stuff!
Prices subject to change
