Campo Allegre

Varietal: 100% Toro (Tempranillo)
Vintage: 2012
Alcohol By Volume: 15%
Region: Castilla y Leon, Northern Spain
Winemakers: Michel Rolland and Francois Lurton
MSRP: $23.00

When we learned Michel Rolland, the most prolific mind in winemaking today, had partnered with fellow Bordeaux luminary Francois Lurton for a series of Spanish wines, we immediately acquired a reserve for our members. Our first of these wines, Campo Alegre Toro, is a powerful yet easy-drinking varietal made from Tempranillo, the primary grape of Spain’s famous Riojas.

Crafted by two of the most decorated winemakers in history, Campo Alegre was awarded 91 points by Wine Enthusiast in 2016. Named after the fast-paced tempo of Spanish flamenco music, Alegre is a light and agile red sure to enliven any occasion.

WINEMAKERS

The most acclaimed oenologist on the planet, Michel Rolland has had a profound influence on both French and international winemaking, responsible for more 90+ scoring vintages than any other individual in his time. Alongside his wife and fellow winemaker Dany, he now consults hundreds of estates and vineyards through the cutting-edge wine facility Laboratorie Rolland in Pomerol. For their latest foray into Spanish wines, the couple partnered with fifth-generation vintner Francois Lurton, a Bordeaux native with experience running vineyards across continents.

REGION

Located northwest of Madrid in the Castilla y Leon region, Toro has produced bold, fruit-forward red wines since medieval times. “What drew us to make wine together in Toro is that it ticks all the boxes of what defines a great terroir," explains Rolland. "We wanted to harness the potential of the region and make a new style of Toro using our winemaking know-how from Bordeaux and from other quality wine regions of the world.” The trio carefully pruned 40-year old vines to produce very low yields, resulting in a unique form of Tempranillo that is bursting with concentrated flavor.

TASTING NOTES

Campo Alegre's aromas are expressive of red fruits, cocoa and light notes of peppery spice. On the palate, the wine is round and structured yet still very easy drinking. The strikingly deep color of Morello cherry foreshadows Campo Alegre’s intense ripe plum, cassis and black cherry flavors.