Torres Priorat Salmos is a full, broad and mouth-filling Priorat displaying savoury berry, mulberry and plum fruit with complex earthy and nutty notes and plenty of richness and structure.
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Brand: Familia Torres
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Description: Dry Red
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Vintages Available: 2017
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Country, Region: Spain, DOQ Priorat
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Ratings: JS 93, WS 92, WE 91
Grapes
Cariñena, Garnacha and Syrah
About the Producer
Jaime Torres emigrated to Cuba in 1855. On the island he made his fortune through the flourishing oil industry and seaborne trade. In 1870 he returned home a rich man and went into business with his brother, a wine grower. Together, in 1870, they founded the family company, in Vilafranca del Penedès, where the company still has its head office. One of Jaime Torres’ ideas was to build a 600,000-litre wine vat, the largest in the world. During the Spanish Civil War the winery was bombarded, leaving everything in ruins, including the enormous vat. Miguel Torres Carbó, a fourth generation member of the family, rebuilt the winery in 1940 and started business up again. He brought an end to the sale of bulk wine and started to market it in labelled bottles. In the year of reconstruction, when France was under German control and unable to provide wine, Miguel Torres travelled to the United States to promote his wines. It was in this period that the brands Sangre de Toro, Viña Sol and Coronas first came into being.
In 1966 work started on the planting of imported grape varieties: at first Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon and later on Merlot, Pinot noir, Riesling and Gewürztraminer. That same year, Miguel A. Torres married Waltraud Maczassek, a German artist, who has also collaborated in the sale of Torres wines on the German market. When Torres produced their first Riesling they named it in honour of Waltraud.
In 1975, Bodegas Torres began growing organic grapes for wine.
In 1991, after the death of Miguel Torres, the winery passed into the hands of his son Miguel A. Torres, the company’s current President and Managing Director.
Torres is the family winery with the most extensive vineyards in the Denomination of Origin (DO) of Penedès and the largest winery in Spain. Outside of the Torres family's native Penedès region, they own vineyards in DO Conca de Barberà, DO Toro, DO Jumilla, DO Ribera del Duero, DOQ Priorat and most recently in DOC Rioja - in the last three areas with new wineries or wineries under construction. Likewise, Torres is also Spain's largest producer of DO wines under its own label, exporting to more than 140 countries.
They also run the Miguel Torres Chile winery in the Chilean Central Valley, and in the United States (California) where in 1986 Marimar Torres founded Marimar Estate.
Last year, for the second consecutive year, Torres was named The World's Most Admired Wine Brand by professionals of the sector, according to the ranking published by Drinks International, topping a list of 50 wineries.
Torres signed up to the Barcelona Declaration at the WCP in 2011; pledging to reduce their carbon footprint per bottle by 20% by 2020, as well as to make all buildings sustainable, recycle and recover materials to reduce waste, reduce the ‘water footprint’, to use only renewable energy, to conserve biodiversity and to limit the use of chemicals. Miguel A Torres, one of the architects of the Declaration, and Torres as a principle sponsor, strongly believes that, ‘wineries should put self-interest aside for the good of the environment.’
Vineyard
The grapes are sourced from the estates of El Lloar, Torroja, Bellmunt and Porrera.
Salmos is born in a beautiful remote land. The vineyards are planted on slopes of shale (“licorella” stone) that drain swiftly and have low water retaining capacity. It is precisely such soils, located on steep slopes, which give Priorat wines their typical characteristics.
The area undergoes extreme changes in temperature between day and night and these natural occurrences add to the wine’s appeal. Salmos is a tribute to the Carthusian monks who planted the first grapevines in the Priorat. The wine holds the mysterious legacy of ancient times and wise men.
Vinification
After the harvest, maceration, which lasts about 25 days is performed. The alcoholic fermentation, which ranges from between 7 and 10 days, takes place in stainless steel tanks at a temperature of 28ºC.
Ageing
Malolactic fermentation takes place in French oak barrels. Then, Torres Priorat Salmos is aged in new (25%) and 2 year old French oak barrels for a period of 14 months and finally - for about 2 months – in the bottle.
Tasting Notes
Full, even, purple-hued, dark ruby-red colour. Torres Priorat Salmos' nose is softly full and voluminous with extraordinary fruit expression (cassis, wild blackberry jam) and exquisite dried fruit notes (figs), entwined with complexing nuances of earth and nutty oak. Medium-full bodied, the palate is broad, silky and mouth-filling with very fine ripe tannins that provide presence and fullness and soft acidity that contributes roundness and richness. Savoury berry, mulberry and plum fruit feature prominently with an underlying power which leads to a long, soft, nuanced finish.
Analysis
14.5% alcohol vol.
Food Suggestions
Torres Priorat Salmos pair well with slow-cooked game meats. Alternative dishes could include endive and ham in Mornay (white) sauce, chicken a la king, tagliatelle with ham.
Serving temperature: 16-18°C.
Cellar
Stored under the right conditions, Torres Priorat Salmos will hold its potential for the next 8-10 years.