Alvar De Dios ‘Tío Uco’ 2025

Welcome to Toro. A relatively small wine region in Spain, spreading across southern Valladolid and Zamora, following the Duero river through Castilla y León. Toro sits west of Rueda, that place famous for crisp white Verdejos. Toro is like the dark side of the moon of Rueda. Made mostly with Tinta de Toro, a very close relative of Tempranillo, the wines here are dark and inky and powerful because this is la España profunda—deep, deep Spain.

But Alvar's understanding of Toro is less about the heavy, extracted interpretations that old-style wineries have been making for decades, and more about the subtleties of sandy soils and old vines. Something like a light whisper. That's what he wanted for Tio Uco, his sort of everyday red. Three plots of 25–40-year-old Tempranillo with about 10% Garnacha, all on sandy soils around Zamora.

2025 was a warm vintage, and that comes through in a deeply dark colour. But it's so finely made that it's juicy, with a beautiful electricity that makes it feel light-ish, all that dark, plushy fruit dancing in between. Blackberry, high-acid red currant, a touch of nutmeg, a crack of black pepper.

I would honestly grill sardines and pop this in the fridge so when the sardines are ready the red is nice and chill. Or just grill sausages. That will also do.