The new flagship is called Reserva Real, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc, sourced from the Les Arnes vineyard in Penedes. The wine is typically aged for 18 months in new French oak. The 2006 Reserva Real sports an alluring bouquet of sandalwood, exotic spices, violets, herbs, cassis, and blackberry. In the glass, it opens to reveal exceptional depth, complexity, and balance with layered, spicy, succulent black fruit flavors. Reminiscent of a top Bordeaux classified growth, it is likely to evolve for another 10 years and have a lifespan of over 30 years. There was a time, perhaps 35-40 years ago when I was just becoming interested in fine wine, that Torres and Spanish wine were synonymous in the USA. There was Vega Sicilia for the cognoscenti, and a few Riojas floating about for those past the beginner stage, but for most of us there was Torres and it usually delivered the goods at a nice price ($3 for Sangre de Toro). Currently Torres towers over all the table wine producers in Penedes making several million cases plus one million cases of brandy. The winery is a tourist destination with a first-class restaurant. For many years the Torres flagship was the Gran Coronas Black Label, subsequently renamed Mas La Plana. It is produced from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Mas La Plana vineyard and aged for 18 months in new French oak. Importer: Dreyfus Ashby & Co., New York, NY; tel. (212) 818-0770

A smooth and supple red, offering layers of ripe plum, wild berry, crème de cassis, Kenya AA coffee, black licorice, spice and smoke. There's more with each sip here, all put together in a refined package. Lightly chewy on the subtle finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Drink now through 2021. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 50 cases imported.??–AN??Region: Spain / Penedès Select to Add

A beauty of a wine, with black plum, berry, cocoa, sandalwood and moss on the nose. The palate is huge but perfectly balanced, with flavors of tobacco, blackberry and cassis. The blend is straight from Bordeaux (Cabernet Sauvignon, Cab Franc and Merlot), but everything else screams Spain. Pure, long, smooth and easy in terms of tannic bite, with good aging potential. Drink 2012–2020. ——M.S.(10/1/2010)—— 94