TN: 2001 Bodegas Dos Victorias Toro Gran Elias Mora

In the interest of full disclosure, I first discovered this wine as a Premier Cru closeout that I bought based on points, the shame, the horror!

In any case, this is a wine that I’ve had now 5 times I think. It has never disappointed. For me it is simply put a great wine that I am ever happy to drink. This wine instantly takes me back to a hot morning in early June, visiting the Bodega in San Roman de Hornija. The terroir is limestone rich soil covered in river rock cobbles (doesn’t look too different from Chateauneuf, to be honest) that were deposited long ago. The wine instantly brings back the smell of baked earth, dry dust, wildflowers.

  • 2001 Bodegas Dos Victorias Toro Gran Elías Mora - Spain, Castilla y León, Toro (6/4/2009)
    Starting to show some early signs of maturity on the nose, this is softening a bit. A blast of roasted earth, rainwater, ripe red and blue fruit, violets, leather, black pepper and a hint of oak spice. On the palate some drying tannin remains, probably from barrel, but essentially this is a really well balanced, well integrated wine that is rich without being thick or sweet, plush without being soft and concentrated without being overextracted or bitter. Great length and great character to the finish with tons of dust, rainwater, red and blue fruits again, and a hint of bitter cocoa. Should drink great for the next 5-10 years.

Posted from CellarTracker

For what it’s worth, the 2000 of this wine is very good as well but not as good as the 01. I’ve not yet cracked anything younger, though I bought the 04 based on faith and a barrel sample :slight_smile: I do like their lesser wine (the Crianza is ~$18 last I bought it) but it doesn’t excite me the way this wine does.

They also have a second Bodega under the same management in Rueda: Bodega Jose Pariente, making two Verdejos. The “premium” bottling is oaked and, while good, doesn’t excite. The basic bottling, though, is a tremendous Verdejo, easily the best of the admittedly limited number I’ve had and was under $15 last time I bought it… pure cut, minerality, fresh fruit and mouthwatering acidity.