The story of three centuries of Torres wine giants was presented in a short film that took us to their sites in Catalonia, Chile and California and explained their winemaking techniques, the family's commitment to wine and environmental and social concerns.

However, the star of the evening was undoubtedly Miguel Torres, himself, who took us on a guided tasting of his wines. The welcome drink was Vina Esmeralda 2007, a delightful Moscatel and Gerwurztraminer blend. This exceptionally delicate and strikingly fragrant wine set the mood for an elegant evening.

We first tasted the rare Milmanda Chardonnay 2006 (only 4000 cases) produced from the Catalonia DO which had a lovely density and spicy notes from small casks of new French oak. The complex and harmonious combination of aromas of this elegant, noble wine elevated it to one of the favourites of the evening.

The single-vineyard Fransola 2007 Sauvignon Blanc all the way from the high mountains of North Catalonia had an intense, voluptuous bouquet with fruity aromas. The wine was round and full-bodied with excellent structure. It had an elegant aftertaste with a citric edge that is typical of American Oak.

The Marimar "Don Miguel Vineyard" Pinot Noir 2004 comes from the Torres estates in the Russian River valley of Sonoma county, California. This punched down unfined and unfiltered wine is a creation of Marimar, Miguel's sister. An elegant, delicate, legacy wine it had aromas of wild berries, truffle and an array of spices - nutmeg, clove, cinnamon, anise. The palate showed excellent structure and a well developed body, with firm tannins and a trace of vanilla and toast from the noble ageing in oak.

The Celeste 2006 Tempranillo (Tinto Fino) is an opulent wine brimming with fruit, body and colour: as unique as the night sky - from where it gets its name. This wine displayed a toasty, smoky aroma from being aged in French and American oak. Very fruity at first with ripened tannins on the palate, but also persistent and full bodied.


The best was saved for the last - Mas La Plana 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon comes from 40-year-old vines that are used to make very limited quantities of Torres' most prestigious red wine, known to connoisseurs all over the world. It had a wonderfully intense bouquet, hints of cranberries, cherries and truffles with a full, elegant and pronounced aftertaste that Miguel Torres described as a symphony on your palate!

The best way to end a meal with wine is with a drink that pays homage to the great wines that have complemented the dishes savoured. For this, there is nothing better than a dessert wine. The honeyed, perfumed sugars set off by the fine, fruity acidity of the 100% varietal, Moscatel Oro, was the perfect finish.

Brandy reaffirms a good meal and lends it a touch of distinction, necessary for bringing it to a close with a persistent and vibrant finish and the Torres 10 Gran Reserva Brandy did just that.

Torres is today associated with top quality wine in over 130 countries. It has been available in India for a few years and is distributed by Prestige Wines and Spirits Pvt. Ltd. (Formerly T.T. &G. Trading Private Limited.)