Numanthia Termes Toro

Numanthia Termes Toro is a full-bodied Spanish red wine made from 100% Tinta de Toro grapes, bottled at 15% ABV in a standard 750ml format. Awarded 94 points by James Suckling and 92 points from both Robert Parker's Wine Advocate and Wine Spectator, Termes stands as one of Toro's most critically recognized expressions at its tier.

Quick Facts: ABV: 15%  |  Origin: Toro, Spain  |  100% Tinta de Toro  |  Producer: Bodega Numanthia

Production & Heritage

Bodega Numanthia draws from some of the most extraordinary vineyard stock in Europe — ungrafted vines, many exceeding 120 years of age, that survived the phylloxera epidemic which devastated most of the continent's vineyards in the 19th century. Termes is sourced from low-yielding vines aged 50 years and older and fermented from Tinta de Toro, a local clone of Tempranillo uniquely adapted to the extreme continental climate of the Toro appellation. The wine is aged for 20 months in French oak barrels, with 40% of the barrels being 400-liter vessels and only 20% new wood — a restraint that lets the fruit and terroir lead rather than the oak.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Dense cassis and blackberry paste rise first, followed by layers of dark chocolate, leather, and tobacco leaf. A mineral undertone gives structure to the nose, while violet and anise add aromatic complexity.

Taste: The entry is concentrated and ripe, with black plum and blackberry saturating the palate. Mid-palate flavors of cocoa powder, cinnamon, and cedar emerge alongside a savoury thread of sage leaf and orange zest. The mouthfeel is full and velvety, carrying significant weight without turning heavy.

Finish: Long and layered, with lingering notes of sandalwood, thyme, and dark fruit. The finish dries gently with fine-grained tannins and a hint of tar that anchors the wine's intensity.

How to Drink Termes

Termes rewards a patient pour — decant for 30 to 45 minutes and serve at cellar temperature around 16–18°C to let its layers fully open. At 15% ABV with concentrated fruit and firm tannins, it pairs powerfully with food and benefits from breathing time. For cocktail-adjacent wine service: try it alongside a charcuterie board featuring cured Ibérico meats; as a pairing with a slow-braised lamb shank where the wine's structure matches the richness of the dish; or with a dark chocolate dessert course that echoes the cocoa and blackberry notes in the glass.

Best For

• Gifting a Spanish wine enthusiast exploring beyond Rioja and Ribera del Duero
• Anchoring a special dinner featuring grilled red meats or hearty stews
• Building a cellar with age-worthy, critic-rated Spanish reds
• Introducing friends to the power and depth of old-vine Toro wines

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Termes taste like? Termes delivers concentrated blackberry and black plum fruit layered with cocoa, cinnamon, leather, and tobacco, backed by firm tannins and a mineral backbone. It is a full-bodied, richly textured wine with significant depth and a long, savoury finish.

How does Termes compare to the flagship Numanthia bottling? Termes is sourced from vines aged 50 years and older, while the flagship Numanthia cuvée draws from even older pre-phylloxera vines, resulting in greater concentration and complexity at a higher price point. Termes delivers much of the same old-vine character and Toro intensity in a more approachable, earlier-drinking style.

Is Termes good for sipping on its own? Absolutely — its layered aromatics and full body make it well-suited for contemplative drinking, especially after a 30-minute decant. The wine's balance of ripe fruit, oak spice, and minerality rewards slow, attentive sipping.

Where is Termes made? Termes is produced by Bodega Numanthia in the Toro denomination of origin in the Castilla y León region of northwestern Spain. The vineyards sit on the high-altitude meseta, where extreme temperature swings between day and night concentrate flavors in the Tinta de Toro grapes.

What foods pair well with Termes? Grilled lamb chops benefit from the wine's smoky tannins; cured Ibérico ham mirrors its savoury depth; slow-braised oxtail matches its richness and structure; aged Manchego cheese complements the cedar and tobacco notes; and dark chocolate with sea salt echoes the cocoa and mineral character on the finish.

What sizes does Termes come in? Numanthia Termes Toro is widely available in the standard 750ml bottle format.

Is Termes worth the price? Termes positions as a premium Spanish red that punches well above its weight, drawing from genuinely old, ungrafted vines — a vineyard asset almost unheard of in modern European winemaking. With consistent scores of 92–94 points from major critics, it delivers exceptional value relative to comparably scored wines from Toro and neighboring Spanish appellations.

Why Termes?

What separates Termes from the broader Spanish red wine landscape is its source material: ungrafted vines, some over a century old, that survived phylloxera on their own roots — a rarity that gives the wine a purity and intensity few vineyards in Europe can replicate. The restrained oak program — only 20% new French barrels, with larger-format 400-liter casks making up a significant portion — ensures that Tinta de Toro's dark, brooding fruit character dominates. Critical recognition from James Suckling (94 points), Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (92 points), and Wine Spectator (92 points) confirms that Termes consistently delivers at a high level across vintages. For anyone seeking a serious, terroir-driven Spanish red outside the more familiar names of Rioja and Ribera del Duero, Termes is one of the most compelling entry points into the Toro appellation.