Castilla y Leon, Spain
Tierra de Castilla y Leon
In addition to his single-vineyard wines, Alvar makes wine from three plots of vines and some purchased fruit located in the northwestern part of Toro. Named Tio Uco, this wine like those from his single vineyards, is made from organically farmed grapes and is aged primarily in neutral French oak foudres ranging in size from 1000-3500L.
A blend of 90% Tempranillo and 10% Garnacha, produced from vines ranging from 35 to 93 years of age, this is a wine that breaths some badly needed fresh air into the winemaking scene in Toro. The techniques are certainly low intervention here, which culminates with a wine that has very juicy and fruity qualities with a sense of power and complexity that is traditionally associated to the wines of this area.
There's intense, ripe fruit with bracing alcohol and round, full texture across the palate. Notes of fresh strawberry, cherry compote and red currants alongside some cedar, leather and delicate shaved chocolate. While the aromatics give the impression this will be monstrous on the palate, it drinks a bit lighter than its 14.5% abv would suggest. Fruit-driven with satisfying and smooth texture, light dollops of acidity and well-applied tannins. Full of character.