Torres Gran Coronas Etiqueta Negra 1978 Gran Reserva

Wine: Torres Gran Coronas Etiqueta Negra 1978 Gran Reserva

Winery: Miguel Torres (Vilafranca del Penedès, Barcelona)
Appellation / Region: D.O. Penedès
Varietals: 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc
ABV: 12.5%
Winemaking

Grapes sourced exclusively from a small, select Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard planted in 1966 in the municipality of Pacs del Penedès. Harvest took place during the first week of October. Fermented in stainless steel tanks. Initial aging in new French and American oak barrels for 6 months. The wine continued its maturation in second- and third-fill barrels until bottling in November 1980. It remained in the winery's cellars until its commercial release in May 1985.

 

Tasting Notes
 

Appearance: Dark, medium-high depth (capa) brownish-ruby with light, flaky sediment at the base of the bottle. It shows pomegranate and copper highlights; deeply-hued and opaque. The rim is narrow and tawny (tile-red), clearly distinct from the meniscus.

 

Nose: It displays a full varietal character—elegant and refined. Brimming with concentrated black fruit (macerated plums, currants, blackberries), smoky notes, tobacco leaf, and traces of aged leather, coffee beans, vanilla, and sweet spices. Charming and toasty, with almost no reduction compared to other vintages. Balsamic hints of bell pepper, fennel, black pepper, and "Zara" style hard licorice emerge, with a subtle "tin-can" note in the background. It evolves rapidly, revealing aromas of damp earth, black truffle, and an array of leaf litter and shaded forest floor.

 

Palate: Somewhat more austere than expected, lacking a degree of finesse. Toasty, slightly bitter, and well-balanced, with melted, supple (grasos) tannins and a fair but sufficient acidity. It appears to lack the necessary core strength for further bottle aging; it should be enjoyed now. Correct and charming, though a tier below the exceptional 1971 or 1975 vintages.

 

Personal Score: 88
Tasting Group Score: 90

Historical Context & Background:
For the Torres family, Bordeaux wines represented the ultimate paradigm of excellence in fine winemaking. This conviction led them to champion Bordeaux varietals for the creation of their most emblematic label: Torres Gran Coronas Etiqueta Negra Gran Reserva. Between 1965 and 1966, the first Cabernet Sauvignon vines were planted at the Mas La Plana estate.

 

The inaugural vintage, the 1970 Etiqueta Negra, achieved legendary status by triumphing at the historic 1979 Wine Olympics in Paris—the world’s premier wine competition organized by renowned gastronomes Henri Gault and Christian Millau. In a landmark moment for viticulture, this "outsider" outperformed the most prestigious Cabernet Sauvignons of the French Médoc, including icons such as Château Latour 1970, Château Pichon-Lalande 1964, and even the legendary Château La Mission Haut Brion 1961.

 

By the mid-1980s, the wine adopted its current name, Torres Mas La Plana, transitioning to a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon monovarietal. This shift marked the end of an era, as the winery moved away from the use of old-vine Tempranillo and Cariñena, as well as the Cabernet Franc vines previously included in the final blend.

 

The 1978 Vintage:
The 1978 harvest was officially rated as Exceptional (E) for white wines and Very Good (VG) for reds by the Regulatory Council of the D.O. Penedès.