The 2008 La Mula de la Quietud comes from two parcels of 90-year-old vines that together make one hectare that, according to Jean-Francois, accumulate sugar rapidly during the growing season. It is matured in new French oak for 24 months and then aged for another year in bottle. It has a very rich, opulent bouquet of sloes, dark plum and a touch of fresh prune. If you were to ask me, I would have picked this a day or two earlier. The palate is medium-bodied with a ripe entry of dark cherry, raspberry coulis and wild strawberry. It is smooth and generous, though again, it is just a little too sweet on the finish at the expense of more finesse and tension. Still, this is a respectable, extroverted Toro red that has sufficient freshness to keep you contented. Drink now-2018. The Toro landscape was aglow when I visited Quinta de la Quietud as the sun began to set upon its 22 hectares of dry farmed, organically trained bush vines. The estate itself was founded in 1999. Winemaker Jean-Francois Hebrard, who used to work with Jean-Luc Colombo, used to practice pigeage on his Toro wines, but he told me that in recent years he has moved towards delestage in order to extract softer tannins Importer: Petit Pois Corp, Moorestown, NJ; tel. (856) 608-9644