Dominio del Bendito Las Sabias Toro

Tasting Notes

A deep purple hue with a complex, powerful nose greets you. Expect aromas of blackberry, blueberry, black cherry, and violets, evolving with air to reveal tobacco and roasted notes. Full-bodied on the palate, it offers intense red fruit balanced by firm yet smooth tannins. The finish is long and harmonious, with an aging potential of 8-15 years, promising a richer bouquet, minerality, and a touch of grace.

Background

Frenchman Antony Terryn is a notable winemaker in Toro, encouraged to settle there by his friend Jean François Hébrard of Quinta Quietud. Terryn named his project "Bendito" ("Blessed"), reflecting his joy in discovering the region.

Terryn isn't just drawn to Toro's powerful wines; he loves the region's rugged vines that thrive in sandy soil, known for adding a touch of finesse. He farms 22 hectares, owning 15 himself, and uses concrete tanks for some fermentations. Despite the area's tricky balance of high pH and stable acidity, Terryn describes his approach as refreshingly simple and instinctive.

His Dominio del Bendito Primer Paso is a great starting point for Toro wines, while Las Sabias and Titán del Bendito showcase the soul of older, ungrafted vines. Terryn's repertoire goes beyond reds, with a refreshing rosé called Perlarena, a sweet La Chispa Negra, and even an interesting vin de paille style wine named Antojo Rubio, made from a blend of white grapes.

Production process

Terryn handpicks only the ripest grapes to ensure the best quality. He crafts his wines using traditional methods in a modern setting. Fermentation happens in small concrete tanks for three to four weeks, allowing the flavors to develop slowly. The wine then ages in French oak barrels for over a year, followed by another two years in the bottle before it’s ready to be enjoyed.