<a href="http://myplanetavino.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/novellum-2005.jpg" title="Novellum Crianza 2005"><img align="right" src="http://myplanetavino.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/novellum-2005.jpg" alt="Novellum Crianza 2005" /></a>Toro is a wine region that 10 years ago was just starting to change its wines, making more elegant modern styles.  Now it has gained a new reputation and though there is still a lot of room for improvement, its top wines are some of the most respected in the wine community.  Within Spain, Toro still hasn’t shaken off its somewhat rustic reputation for big “bull’s blood” style wines, though when I give Toro wines to my Spanish wine tasting groups, they are generally pleasantly surprised.  Among wine aficionados and in the export market Toro already enjoys a very good reputation.  Unfortunately this has led to some pretty high prices for the top wines.  Some of my favourites have increased in price by at least half in only a few years...I remember when Termanthia was only 50€....now it starts at 120€!  Amongst my favourites....still reasonably priced at less than 35€:  Numanthia, San Roman, Quinta de Quietud, Gran Elias Moro, and Pintia (at 25€ this is still a great bargain!) 

Toro is a beautiful little town to visit, though sadly my favourite restaurant, Restaurante Lera, closed last year.  A nice winery to visit in the downtown area is Bodegas Rejadorada, which maintains an ancient cellar and tasting room for visitors.  The modern winery is elsewhere, but it’s a fun, short visit...you can see a film explaining the history or Toro wines, see the old lagares, and taste wines and buy regional products in the tasting room. 

The wine of Rejadorada offer great value.  They represent modern Toro wines well...intense yet elegant black fruit with nicely balanced oak.  I love the Reserva wine, but at 20€, it’s for special occasions.  

Today I want to introduce their crianza wine, Novellum, which at about 10€ is a great value wine.  

Wine:  Novellum 2005
Winery:  Rejadorada
Denominacion de Origen (DO): Toro
Alc: 14.5%
Grape variety: 100% Tinta de Toro (a very distinctive variant of Tempranillo)
Oak regime:  aged 12 months in French, American and Rumanian oak
Price:  10-12€ (Bodega Santa Cecilia)

Tasting notes
Visual:  Intense opaque purple red
Nose:  Blackberry liqueur fruit, blueberry pie, with oak spices and vanilla.  A touch of earthy/leafy notes.  
Mouth:  Huge mouth, but good balanced...lots of everything!  Big black fruit, spicy oak, huge, ripe tannins.  Very silky texture and a very long, though quite tannic  finish.    
Food:  Great with any big, earthy, meaty food....Toro wines are awesome with the hearty food of the region, which can include a lot of game.

Conclusion:  Love this wine...it’ not for the faint of heart, but though it’s big....the equilibrium between the elements is impressive.  It’s a crowd pleaser and often my groups prefer it to some more expensive wines in a wine tasting.  Great value! 