WTN: Short notes from Torres Mas La Plana vertical 02, 99, 97, 96, 94

Saturday evening I attended a "friendship tasting" of Mas La Plana with members of both the Chaine des Rotisseurs and the International Wine and Food Society in attendance with the Chaine hosting the event. Tasting was done before the excellent dinner of chorizo, braised wild duck, and vanilla ice cream with merengue and mango. All the wines were flown in from Spain just a week before the tasting.

Torres Mas La Plana 1994 - Spicy nose. Dry, soft tannins, bitter chocolate and dried fruit. Quite long.

Torres Mas La Plana 1996 - On the nose, initially flowers. Later musty with an odd undertone of orange. No fruit. Woody, unbalanced. A cliche, but it did have a hole in the mid-palate. Bitter, tannic finish. Worst wine of the night for me but many others seemed to like it.

Two 1997s were served, one flown in from Spain, the other cellared in Manila since release.

Torres Mas La Plana 1997 (bottle from Spain) - Very fruity nose with a bit of earth, spice and mint. Flavors of tobacco, leather and dried herbs. Still tannic. Can age some more.

Torres Mas La Plana 1997 (bottle cellared in Manila) - Color slightly more developed than the Spanish bottle. Nose shows roasting meat notes rather than fruits. The flavors are very similar except that this bottle is just a little softer.

Torres Mas La Plana 1999 - Nose of spice, bread, earth. Has a sweetness on the nose. After an hour, distinct cedar aromas. Meaty, preserved plums. Very nice and fresh. My second wine of the night.

Torres Mas La Plana 2002 - On the nose, leather, smoke and chocolate. On the palate, more of the same. Has some good ripe fruit sweetness. Rather soft but drinking very nicely. An outstanding match with the chorizo. My wine of the night but out of 25 or so people, I think I was the only one who ranked it number one.

We finished with some fine Torres brandy - the 20 year old and the 30 year old Jaime I.

The next friendship tasting is supposed to be hosted by the International Wine and Food Society and will feature a vertical of Torres' top Chile wine - Manso de Velasco Cabernet Sauvignon.

[Jenise]

Nice notes. I believe we've agreed before on how much we both like this wine--it's easily one of the most savoury cabernets I've ever had. Brian Miller who posts on this board should try one sometime--the savoury styles of familiar grapes always seem to turn his head.

[David M. Bueker]

I've had a few vintages of this & like it a lot.

it's easily one of the most savoury cabernets I've ever had.

I guess that means that I should try it also! We've got the 2002 available here. After my next pay day I'll get one...

-O-

Was the tasting done blind?

Nope. And wine poured for dinner was Mas La Plana 2002

That bottle of '96, the way you describe it, was just not right, Jay. It's one of the best Mas La Planas of the post-crisis period (there was a bad period in the 1980s-early 90s), with '99 and '01.

Bordeaux lovers who don't like 'over-the-top' super Tuscans should try Mas La Plana - one of the best European cabernets. Also the other Torres Bordeaux blend, Reserva Real.

Thanks you for your comments. If I remember right, both the '96 and '97 were voted best wines of the night with only one point separating them so I really wonder what I missed in the '96.

We are lobbying Torres for a Grans Muralles tasting. I guess we'll ask for Reserva Real after that.

From your tasting note, I think I know what you were looking for but missed in the '96: Gobs of fruit and jam and a sexy hedonistic mouthfeel!

But if the Grans Muralles tasting pushes through, count me in.

You missed out "hedonistic" before fruit. Yes, we'll keep you in mind if the Grans Muralles tasting pushes through.

Hi Jay,

Nice notes, thanks for posting. My brothers and I hosted a Mas La Plana vertical at the 2004 MoCool. I brought the 91, 94, 97, and 98. We had 10 tasters in all and the 97 was voted as the best with a couple of people voting for the 94. I am building another vertical with a 98, 99, and 2001 so far. I have tried the 99 and I agree with you that it is a very fine example of the famous "Black Label." Have you tried the 2001 yet?

Hi Tom,

Have not tried the '01. Not sure it's still available here in Manila but I'll pick it up if I see it. Looking forward to your notes.

Jay

Hi Jay,

My brothers and I hosted a Mas La Plana vertical at the 2004 MoCool. I brought the 91, 94, 97, and 98. We had 10 tasters in all and the 97 was voted as the best with a couple of people voting for the 94. I am building another vertical with a 98, 99, and 2001 so far.

I think I might have been in the minority on that one Tom. Of the two favorites, I remember I liked the earthier more evolved version.
Here's hoping that the new vertical is shared in the same way, at the same venue.....

Nice notes. I believe we've agreed before on how much we both like this wine--it's easily one of the most savoury cabernets I've ever had. Brian Miller who posts on this board should try one sometime--the savoury styles of familiar grapes always seem to turn his head.

I've just discovered this tasting note Intriguing!

It's interesting that the wine shows savory/leathery notes so young (2002). I was listening to a wine and food show on the local radio, and the host commented that these secondary flavors never show up in young wine. I sputtered "Beaulieu Reserve Wines show those flavors young, darn it! That's why they're so much better than the alcoholic caramel-vanilla fruit bombs that are so popular now!

Hi O. W.

I am thinking about hosting another Mas La Plana vertical at this year's MoCool since it sort of fits the Atlantic Rim theme (Penedes is on the Mediterrean side of Spain). My only hesitation is that I only have three years in the vertical so far. I think you need 4 years to get a good vertical and I have no idea when the 2002 will come to Ontario. Let's hope the MoCool gang get confirmation on the availability of the picnic site for MoCool soon so we can start planning!

Agreed, Tom. And perhaps others have additional vintages of MLP they could contribute. I certainly would, but I don't have any.