Vatan Toro Arena 2017 (750ml) *
Product price
$447.99
Description
Tinta de Toro, the local strain of Tempranillo, gives the wines of Toro their heft, and this bottling from Vatan pushes that muscle toward finesse. Sourced from old vines propagated by massal selection (original genetic material rather than commercial clones), the 2017 Arena is barrel-fermented and then raised for 36 months in barrique, with only the best barrels making the final cut. Production is tiny, so this is a small-scale, serious expression of the region rather than an everyday pour.
The nose leans sweet and perfumed, balsamic and oak spice framing baked, dark berry fruit, with cedar, vanilla, tobacco, and a whiff of smoke and incense filling in behind. It is full-bodied and concentrated, powerful in the way this vintage tends to be, but what stands out is the balance of structure and elegance. The tannins are fine and reactive, gripping without coarseness, built to soften and unfold over many years in the cellar.
Product Details
| Category | Wine |
| Country | Spain |
| Region | Castilla y Leon |
| Subregion | Toro |
| Varietal | Tempranillo |
| Producer | Vatan |
| Vintage | 2017 |
| Size | 750 ML |
| Subtype | Still |
Expert Reviews
A vine selection of ancient genetic material, all original massal selection, 2017 Vatan Arena offers finessed tannins that are designed to last. Full-bodied, it’s got the muscle and stuffing to shed as well, plenty to work with as it continues to develop, already lovely in a sweet, perfumed nose of nuanced balsamic and oak, with a baked quality to the berry fruit. It’s the elegance and structure that stand out most, after barrel-fermentation and then aging 36 months in barrique after a selection of the best barrels is made. There are just under 800 bottles of this wine; get it and age 20-25 years. (Jeb Dunnuck, July 2025)
The 2017 Tinta de Toro Vatan Arena is from Villaester de Abajo, Finca Los Quemaos. This comes from just eight barrels. Blackberry and black cherry fruit aromas meet oak tones of vanilla, cedar, tobacco and dark smoke on the nose. The palate is intense, with grip and fine, reactive tannins, plus incense and musk. This is concentrated and structured, with vintage-driven power. (Vinous)