La Mula 2019

Wine description for La Mula de la Quietud 2019 from Quinta de la Quietud

Colour & appearance

Deep, bright purple red with youthful intensity - a visual promise of the power that lies within the glass.

Nose

The nose immediately reveals the extraordinary concentration: ripe black fruits, blackberries and plums dominate, underpinned by spicy notes and a hint of liquorice. The balance is remarkable - despite 30 months in new French barriques, the wood remains discreetly in the background, more of a texture than a dominant flavour. The freshness is surprising in a wine of this opulence and speaks for the altitude and the winemaker's skill.

Palate

This is Toro in its purest form: powerful, but not brutal; concentrated, but not tiring. The wine fills the mouth with velvety, fine-grained tannins that are never aggressive despite their density. The fruit is dark and ripe, but a mineral vein runs through and prevents any heaviness. With 15% alcohol, one might expect power, but the La Mula shows elegance and tension instead. The finish is long and savoury - a sign of the 100 to 120-year-old vines and the extreme yields from organically cultivated, unirrigated vines.

General information

Quinta de la Quietud vinifies a pure-bred Tinta de Toro, the local Tempranillo clone, which becomes small-berried and thick-skinned due to the continental climate and the intense sun. The ancient vines, organic cultivation without irrigation and spontaneous fermentation in steel tanks result in a wine that shows what Toro can do if you don't overdo it. The DO Toro has a reputation for powerhouses - this one is a powerhouse with manners.

Food pairing suggestions

This wine calls for a savoury accompaniment: Leg of lamb from the oven, Grilled ribeye steak, Game with dark sauces or ripe Manchego. Also to braised oxtail or Iberian pork an excellent choice.

Special features

The combination of century-old vines, radical yield restriction and long ageing results in a wine that never tires despite its power. A modern Toro with soul - and at an astonishingly fair price for this quality.