2004 Bodegas Carmen Rodriguez Carodorum Issos Toro
($24) Dark ruby. Powerful, oak-accented kirsch and blackcurrant aromas are seductively expansive. Sweet dark berry flavors show excellent depth and are gently supported by broad, velvety tannins. Finishes on a sweet note of dark berry liqueur, with impressive persistence.
2004 Bodegas Carmen Rodriguez Carodorum Crianza Toro
($34) Deep red. Zesty redcurrant and cherry on the nose, complicated by tobacco and minerals. Firm, focused and juicy, with vibrant cherry and bitter cherry pit flavors given structure by dusty tannins. Bright and persistent on the finish.
2004 Bodegas Carmen Rodriguez Carodorum Seleccion Especial Toro
($60) Dark violet. Sexy vanillin oak and Asian spice qualities dominate ripe cherry and blackberry preserve aromas, with deeper espresso and tobacco adding depth. Lush, creamy and sweet, showing a strong oaky personality, perhaps at the expense of its suave red and dark berry liqueur flavors. As attractive as this is, I wonder if the wood is going to have the final say. (Quality Wines of Spain, New York, NY)
