What is the current situation with Torres Gran Coronas Black Label?

WINE TALK
1

I remember having older ones at tastings when I lived in NYC, and these were muy impressive. This was before I had ever heard of this Penedes tempranillo/CS blend. The ‘Good’ Jay Miller had poured us old ones that were incredibly deep, which I still remember.

So I did some google searching, but Wilson Daniels page seems thin, considering the history.

My queries:

Is my understanding that what used to be the ‘black label’ is now really the ‘La Plana’?
Is the current ‘black label’ bottling any good or ageworthy?
Are old time enthusiasts still buying?
Are there obvious sources/retailers?

I haven’t tripped over them recently, so I’d have to use up a shipping slot/spot if I wanted to reconnect.

There is something about the history and names changes which remind me of Cousino Macul, and their long running attempts to monetize old vine plantings.

thanks for any color on this!

2

Been a loooong time since I had one (and you’re correct: they were good), maybe 1990’s?

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3

I loved the 1970 when I was first getting into wine. I bought a lot of it back then, but sadly drank them all a long time ago…

4

I found this good snippet in the archives here

5

I was really hoping someone was going to answer your question. I think the last vintage I had was the 1985.

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6

Coincidently, I’d been wondering about those wines earlier this week. I haven’t seen them on shelves in years. The base Coronas used to be a great value, and widely available. Why did they disappear off shelves?

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7

Ah a trip down memory lane. Bought this in 2017 at auction for A$60 and it was really really good.
IMG_1486.JPG

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8

Mas La Plana is single vineyard Cabernet in a Burgundy bottle, Gran Coronas is Cab/Tempranillo in a BDX bottle . As far as distribution goes Torres partnered with Ste. Michelle and all the focus was on the lower priced Sangre de Toro tier. Now with recent move to WD we should see more premium wines out in the market.

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9

I thought you poured us examples from the 60s & 70s? Or am I misremembering?

10

The old Gran Coronas Black Label was in a Burgundy bottle, I haven’t run across the wine since it’s been bottled in a Bordeaux bottle.

-Al

11

Crazy! So Ste. Michelle just wasn’t interested in the really good stuff?

That’s great news if Wilson Daniels (I assume that’s WD) will support the top bottlings again.

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Yes, but by last I meant most recent. So plenty from 70s, some from 60s and early 80s but IIRC nothing from 1986 or later.

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I thought it was common knowledge that the name of the old Gran Coronas Black Label was changed to Mas La Plana at some point to reflect the vineyard the grapes were sourced from. Theoretically Mas La Plana is exactly the same wine, but to me the modern Mas La Plana has always appeared a rather gloopy, international Cab. But then again, so do many contemporary Bordeaux wines, so I guess the wine just reflects the times.

The wines that now go under any Coronas name bear no relation to the old Gran Coronas Black Label.

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14

Some of the old Black Labels were like 20% Tempranillo and even with some Monastrell, at least in some vintages. It eventually became 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, I think 1978 was the first vintage.

-Al

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15

I had a '61 & '71 black label that both mentioned like 10% Cab Franc on the back label. They were both marvelous.

16

What a blast from the past, super fond memories of both the 78 and 82. Funny how these were once considered world class and today it’s barely a blip on the radar.

17

Ah yes…
I consumed many bottles of the 1981 (a great vintage) way back when. The wine became 100% cabernet a few years earlier back in 1978. There was some bottle variation with that 1981, but for the most part, it was an amazing wine…better than a lot of 1982 Bordeaux purchased at the same time.
I recently purchased a few bottles of the Mas La Plana out of curiosity after a thirty year hiatus.
The new Torres wine was definitely a very well made wine. However It seemed much richer than I remembered. Perhaps consumed a little too young.
Maybe I am looking back at that 1981 with rose colored glasses, but my memory is that that wine was simply wonderful and instrumental in starting me on my wine journey.

By the way…in the past Torres made a wonderful Grand Mariner knock off that was amazing. I wonder whether it is still being made.

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18

A lurking friend reminds me that I had the 2009 a few years ago. In my defense, that wine was not very interesting and eminently forgettable.

Such a pity. The old ones were fantastic.

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and great value. Loved those wines.

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Hi all - sorry for the thread necromancy BUT it seems appropriate. A local shop just sent an email that they were selling bin ends from a collection they just purchased. They seem pretty serious, so i checked out what they were offering. Well, one of the bottles was a 1982 Torres Gran Coronas black label! The label itself was in rough shape, but it was cheap and the cork/fill looked fine. Ill post back here once i crack it.