Tasting a Legend

The culinary pairing gauntlet was thrown with some Dyreks Ranch bison tenderloins on the Wine Armada Saturday night dinner menu. Being leaner, a little more dense and flavorful than beef, the perfect Spanish wine compliment led us somewhere we had yet to explore, but had been anxiously awaiting the uncorking, after a year in our cellar. It was now time to unleash...the "Black Label"!

Miguel Torres is one of the most famous, and influential, winemakers in Spain and the much-sought-after Torres Mas La Plana "Black Label", illustrates the depth of his talents. This classic was produced from a single vineyard in Penedes (a northeastern Spanish wine region) from 100% old-vine cabernet sauvignon and aged 18 months in new French oak. Mas La Plana received notoriety in the 1979 Paris Wine Olympiad when it was awarded top prize over many other well-respected European wines.

Since we selected the 2003 vintage, there was plenty of time for tannins to settle and flavors to develop with some aging. This paid off handsomely, with this elegant wine providing a delicious accent to the bison steak, without overpowering the meat's subtle, unique flavor. A complex combination of dark fruit, leading to a long finish hinting of herbs and licorice, made it worth the wait to finally experience the magic created by Miguel Torres.

Here is a link for more information on Torres, Mas La Plana and his other more affordable wines that are readily available. In fact, another "can't miss" pairing, is his under-$10 Sangre de Toro and Spanish shrimp.

Salud!