Torres, Gran Sangre de Toro Reserva, Catalunya

Quite astounding. I didn't have high hopes as it was well past the suggested drinking window, even though I have found these to age exceptionally. There was significant ullage so I was prepared for this to be a write-off. Opened at a party while giving more time for an '86 Lafite to breathe -- and many in the group preferred this to the Lafite (I'm not sure I did)! As one would expect, rather delicate with noticeable browning but lovely …

Brick red, browning; beef-stock, fading, some strawberry notes, hints of blackcurrant even; soft red fruits, retains a ‘sweetness’; cracking up - edgy finish. Past it’s prime but drinkable. (Good level, inch below cork, which soaked through).

Purchased from Schaefers in Skokie, IL, who was original owner. Cork failure

From a bottle that had developed seepage and is considerably less pristine than my bottle 2 years ago. Cherry, tobacco, at times a bit like an old Bordeaux, the oxidation gives kind of a caramel tinge to the palate, lively acidity, slightly coarse and eventually drying rather than refreshing. Pretty good.

Totally bricked in color. Mushroom, carob, vanilla, caramel, espresso, cedar, dried fruit nose. Luscious, sweet old palate that only fully mature wines seem to achieve. Tealike, tobacco, dusty, vanilla, old American oak, a touch of oxidation. Really charming.

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Mas La Plana vertical tasting (Brussels) : Orange jam at the nose with smoky notes, coffee and truffles. Well-balanced on the palate, good acidity and still a lot of body. Perfectly evolved but already crossing the end of its optimal drinking period.

Decided to celebrate a beautiful late summer night and a very fine ribeye with this aging beauty. At first, it seemed a little brown in color and palate, but in 30-45 minutes perked up nicely. Very good core of still relatively fresh red currant fruit and spice encased in some tobacco and earth. Not the depth or expansion on the palate of a mature Bdx, but oh so warm. Brings back a flood of memories of older Spanish wines enjoyed …

Medium garnet with pale orange rim. Marvelous complexity; Mint, mineral, forest floor, dried currants, tomato, marmalade, leather and vanilla nose. Medium bodied, dry with sweet centred fruit, rounding tannins but still some notable astringency and acidity. Dried berry and earth on the finish. 5/5 *Tasted at Torres' Salmos winery in the Priorat

Still going strong. Very spicy palate and dried cherry nose. Fruit slightly faded with tannins a little too forward but quite enjoyable overall.

Drank this at Meritage. Very tight when it was first opened but had a great nose. After around 10 minutes in the glass and decanter, it started to open up and became smooth and lush. Great wine. I was afraid it was going to lose it fruit before the end of the meal but that didn't happen. Towards the end it was still improving and I was sad that there was not more of this wine.