INSIDER'S PICK: 2018 BIGARDO ZAMORA 'HECHO A MANO' TINTA DE TORO $24.99

Even though we will not be doing the public tasting portion of the Insider's Pick until further notice, we will still be offering the wine for purchase with the usual 10% discount. The wines will still be ones we highly recommend, and the tasting notes will still be our own. We will be returning to doing just the one wine on Thursdays and Fridays until further notice. We hope you are able to come by and get some wines to enjoy.

One of the best things to come from the movement to/acceptance of more 'natural' winemaking styles and practices is that it has uncovered unique potential many producers never thought to expose. The Toro region sits downriver from Ribera del Duero and has long carried the reputation of being a lower potential, less finessed and 'supersized' version of its more famous neighbor upriver. But that's only true when trying to make wines exactly like the Ribera del Duero; high extraction and alcohol, lots of new oak, intended for lengthy aging. A wine like this one really explores other potential way for the local Tinta De Toro grape (descended but different from Tempranillo), and everything wine maker/maverick Kiko Calvo does to this wine runs counter to what has been known as 'traditional' here. Built from parcels of own rooted vines up to 100 years old, all the vineyard practices and winery techniques are used to get as much flavor out of the wine as possible WITHOUT ending up with a heavy, boozy monster; we love a well made monster, mind you, but it's great to see such new potential realized. First off, we will admit that usually the packaging is the last thing we look at, but the 'horns of the bull' on the label and neck tag are pretty badass. And the wine inside backs it up, with loads of graphite and smokey black fruit aromas that are more dusty than sweet, though they do gain a bit of perfume as the bottle opens up. The palate is decidedly where this wine swings against the norm, showing big flavors with great restraint, dark and earthy with lots of tannin and texture without sappy thickness or alcoholic heat. Folks that are usually scared off by this part of the world should definitely show some interest with this, calling to mind a Cahors Malbec or more rustic style Rhone/Languedoc that may feature a fair amount of Mourvedre. Brilliant to pair with hearty red meats, especially those dishes that may have more subtlety to than just 'grill it and eat it.'

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