Kim Uncorked: Welcome to my weekly wine recommendation
Hi, I’m Kim, a passionate lover of wine, food, and any experience that brings the two together!
In this weekly blog post, I share my thoughts on a wine that I’ve recently purchased from one of our local independent wine merchants. If you’d like to know more about me, I’ve included a brief bio following the post.
2023 Matsu
Toro DO
Spanish Red Wine
Nesters Liquor Store
101- 7015 Nesters Rd, Whistler BC
$45.99
After a day on the slopes of Blackcomb Mountain, I craved a bold, juicy red to warm up with. That whim led me straight to the Spanish section of my favourite Whistler wine shop, where I found the Matsu range from Spain’s Toro DO.
Situated in Castilla y Leon in northwestern Spain, Toro is a historic red-wine appellation with viticultural roots dating back to the 1st century BC, when Greek settlers introduced winemaking to local Celtic tribes. Six centuries later, it was wines from Toro that Christopher Columbus chose to bring on his ship to sail the ocean blue—confident that their robust structure and naturally high alcohol would hold up to long sea journeys. Today, Toro is defined by minimal intervention and remarkably old vines. Sandy soils and a dry continental climate reduce disease pressure, enabling growers to farm with little chemical use. The majority of vineyards are planted with Tinta de Toro, a local strain of Tempranillo prized for its finesse and aromatic intensity, capable of yielding dark, full-bodied wines that balance power with elegance.
Matsu—Japanese for “to wait”—honours generations of Toro growers. Working with small local farmers, the winery sources fruit from 80- to 100-year-old, low-yielding, dry-farmed vines, all cultivated biodynamically. The estate produces four wines, each reflecting the vine’s age and character.
For dinner, I chose the 2023 Matsu “El Recio”, or “the tough one.” The estate’s mid-tier wine is said to strike “the perfect balance between youth and maturity.” Crafted from 100% Tinta de Toro, the grapes are sourced from 90-year-old vines, then vinified and aged for 14 months in second-use French and Eastern European oak. Of note, despite the intense heatwave of 2023, the Toro region adapted remarkably well, likely a reflection of the Tinto vine’s strength and age. At
14.5% alcohol, the wine strikes a confident balance between power and finesse. Medium ruby in hue, the wine opens with an enticing nose of blackberry, cocoa, toast, and vanilla. The palate is plush yet vibrant, supported by ripe tannins and a subtle earthiness. Layers of dark fruit unfurl through a medium-length finish, marked by subtle spice.
Serve Tinto de Toro with roasted lamb or pork, or try it with spicy tomato-based dishes.
Kim Mead is a Vancouver-based wine and food writer. She holds the WSET Level 3 Award in Wines with Merit, the French Wine Scholar designation with Honours, and Italian Wine Essentials certification. She is currently pursuing the Bordeaux Master's program with the Wine Scholar Guild. Kim serves as Cellar Master for the Vancouver chapter of the International Wine and Food Society and is a member of the Commanderie de Bordeaux. Follow her @agalandaglass