In a recent post on Marqués de Riscal Rioja Reserva, I mentioned how it's no longer so easy to find a really good rioja at a good price. Some day, probably soon, this will also be true of the wines of Toro, but for now it's still possible to find outstanding bargains . Wine writer Oz Clarke warns that Toro's prices are going up though. He also describes the wines of Toro as a "country cousin" to Ribera del Duero in flavor, but "more robust."
Taurus' Toro Roble 2005 isn't for everyone. If you like mellow, fruity, easy-drinking reds, it may be too aggressive for you. Taurus Toro Roble 2005 is the wine-equivalent of strong, very dark, almost bitter chocolate. You either love it, or you don't. (I love it).
Despite the name "roble," which means oak in Spanish, Taurus' Toro hasn't spent long inside a barrel, only a few months--so the oak taste is light.
This wine would go very well with lentil soup or venison.
