Maurodos San Román Toro

Toro, Spain

Mariano García's (ex-Vega Sicilia) benchmark Toro — Tinta de Toro from ancient sandy soils treated with the elegance that characterized his Vega Sicilia work. More refined and food-friendly than Numanthia Termanthia, with dark cherry, plum, tobacco, cedar, and a long mineral finish from the high-altitude sandy soils.

Pairing intelligence

• main: Old Castile's braised lamb and Toro's most elegant red — García's refined wine complements rather than overwhelms the stew; saffron bridges the wine's mineral depth; almonds echo the wine's cedar
• main: Castilian blood sausage and Toro's structured red — the wine's dark fruit and tobacco handles the morcilla's iron intensity; pimentón bridges the wine's spice notes