Torres, Penedes, Conca Barbera Milmanda

HaKerem Premium White Wines tasting (at Mor & Eyal) : a very good enjoyable Chardonnay

From younger vines not yet old enough for Milmanda and this tastes in every way a junior version of that wine. Both oak and maturity evident here. Attractive with food but drink up!

This is a pleasant everyday chard, at the oaky end of the spectrum. The nose is rich, citrus and vanilla/oak, and these continue to the palate which is very nicely balanced: whilst this has clearly seen a lot of oak the overall feel is smooth and not disjointed. It is very clean on the mouth and has quite a long finish where both the acidity and the vanilla/oak notes linger pleasingly. At ~US$20-25 this would be a very decent everyday …

Fine refreshing wine from Catalunya from a lighter vintage. This is not a fullbodied Chardonnay, being more on a leaner, fresh style of juicy pineapple. Nice as Apéro or with delicate sea fish. Ready to drink, although bouquet is not very developped, yet. Remark : The price of about 25 - 30 $ seems a bit too much in view of the overall quality.

Trop cher mais tr�s bon

Belle surprise, premiere journee un peu americain style, deuxieme journee plus bourguignon. Pret a boire bonne longeur et belle intensit�. Juste un peu chers je trouve.

By the glass. Here began the gentleman Torres with his chardonnay fermented in barrel, with smoked and roasted notes of pear and melted butter. On the palate it is easy to understand, glyceric, with a good persistence and balanced. A simple wine far from an alleged complexity that would merit a lower price. Por copas. Aqu� se inici� el caballero Torres con sus chardonnay fermentados en barrica, con notas ahumadas y tostadas a pera y a mantequilla derretida. Al paladar …

Vanilla aromas on the nose. Medium bodied and dry, showing a lot of oaky flavors like vanilla and buttery notes with some subtle yellow fruit as well. Enjoyable despite of the heavy oak. Paired very well with the king crab dish at Food Garden (Viking Line).

Apparently the favourite tipple of the King of Spain. Gossip aside, this is the delightful side of rich Chardonnay. Not dominated by fruit, but a wonderful toffee, caramel, dried apricot, quince, hazelnut, almond, macadamia, dessicated coconut, patchouli nose and palate. Acidity, alcohol, and flavours all in balance. Rounded and unctuous. There are the early hints of sherry and oxidation, but they manifest in a secondary complexity rather than a detriment. Perfect with rich buttery white fish dishes.

Hint of oxidation. Should be consumed at about year 5.

Hazy notes -I brought this to a party and tried a glass or two. This was quite an elegant and classy chardonnay. Not too much oak, nice concentration, better than i expected. Ready now, but will last a few years too (B+/A-)

Lack of fruit makes this unbalanced for me. This is what I feel each time I taste it.

Pleasant, appley and buttery. Good.

Torres tasting (Britannic Wine Club, Sunbury) : Slightly creamy, delicate nose. Mineral, smokey palate. Good acidity. nice weight, rounded vanilla finish, oak well balanced. Good, but not good vfm. 14abv. ***