Alvar de Dios, Tio Uco Toro 2022

94 points Vinous
"The 2022 Tío Uco Vino de Comarca, crafted with 90% Tinta de Toro and 10% Garnacha sourced from Páramo de la Guareña, is bottled as Vino de la Tierra de Castilla y León and was aged in 2500-liter foudres. It exhibits a purple hue. Its reductive nose, reminiscent of cherries, also features plums and light vanilla. Light and fairly lean, the taut and chalky palate leads to a compact, refreshing, juicy and lasting finish."

Vinous Reverie Notes
In addition to his single vineyard wines, Alvar makes a wine from three plots of vines located in the northwestern part of Toro. Ranging in age from 25–40 years old, these Tempranillo and Garnacha vines are grown on a variety of soils. Named Tio Uco, this wine like those from his single vineyards, is made from organically farmed grapes, fermented whole cluster with indigenous yeasts, sees only a gentle maceration with pigeage by foot, and is aged primarily in neutral French oak barrels ranging in size from 300-1000L. Formerly pure Tempranillo, Tio Uco since the 2016 vintage includes about 10% Garnacha in the final blend.