2008 Miguel Torres Mas La Plana Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon

Miguel Torres is the best-known label of Bodegas Torres, Spain’s largest wine producer and one of its most innovative and historic. Bodegas Torres was founded in 1870 by Jaime Torres, who made a fortune in Cuba then returned to northeastern Spain to go into the wine business with his brother. The business is still owned and operated by the Torres family, and along with numerous estates throughout Spain, Bodegas Torres runs a winery in Chile and California. The company produces wines made of traditional Spanish grapes as well as international varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon. Miguel Torres wines are exported to 140 countries.

Cataluña is the northeastern corner of Spain just under France. Its most famous city is Barcelona, which suggests a lot about the open-minded, entrepreneurial attitude toward winemaking in this region. Cataluña, or Catalunya as it is known in the local Catalan language, doesn’t think of itself as particularly Spanish, and its winemaking traditions are a mix Spanish and French. Of the ten appellations in Cataluña the most famous are Priorat, Penedès and Tarragona. Penedès is the largest and most productive of the appellations since it is home to Spain’s most important Cava producers, namely Freixenet and Codorníu. Cava was first made in Penedès in the late 19th century using Spanish grape varietals to making sparkling wines in the French manner. Cataluña is also known for intensely flavored, dark red wines from Priorat and other appellations. The primary red grapes are Tempranillo, Garnacha Tinta and Cabernet Sauvignon. Cava is made from the indigenous white grapes Xarel-lo, Parellada and Macabeo.

One of the most widely grown grape varieties, it can be found in nearly every wine growing region. A cross between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc. It’s a hardy vine that produces a full-bodied wine with high tannins and great aging potential.