Cal Blanca 2009

SWIC Score: 89 (JMG)

Tasting notes: Blackberries, smoke, chalk, ripe, direct, warm.

Available: ON (VINTAGES 292003 - $ 18.95)

 

Winery: Compañía de Vinos del Atlántico

Region: D.O. Toro

Varieties: 100% Tinta de Toro

Ageing: 6 months in French oak barrel

Alcohol level: 14.0% alc./vol.

Cal Blanca is a wine named for a single vineyard located at Cerro de los Almendros, the highest elevation of D.O. Toro and the only area with limestone soils. Actually, Cal Blanca (it means ‘white chalk’) refers to that soil. The winery of Compañía de Vinos del Atlántico at D.O. Toro (they produce wines on 18 different appellations) was founded in 2007 by Juan Pablo Peñalba from the Torremilanos family in Ribera del Duero; Pablo Rubio, Peter Sisseck’s vineyard manager; Alberto Orte and Patrick Mata. Since then, they produce this wine which offers an excellent value for price.

Vintage tasted: 2009 (November 2012)