In the glass
Aroma: black cherry, cedar, cassis, tobacco
Palate: dark fruit, graphite, spice, fine tannin
Single-vineyard 100 percent Cabernet Sauvignon from the 29-hectare Mas La Plana plot at Finca El Maset planted in the early 1970s. Bordeaux-style barrique ageing on Penedes limestone.
What it pairs with
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Costella de xai a la brasa
Find costella de xai a la brasa on TableJourney →
Grilled lamb chops match the wine's firm tannins and cedar register. -
Aged Manchego
Sheep's-milk salt sharpens Cabernet's cassis lift and softens the tannin grip. -
Pa amb tomaquet with cured Iberian ham
Find pa amb tomaquet with cured iberian ham on TableJourney →
Catalan bread-and-tomato with bellota ham finds the wine's tobacco and graphite core. -
Braised wild boar
Game and dark-fruited Cabernet share leather and spice notes.
How to serve Mas La Plana
Allow 90 minutes from open to pour.
- Open and decant. Open 60 to 90 minutes ahead for vintages under 10 years old; pour into a wide decanter to soften the firm tannins.
- Serve at 16-18C. Cellar temperature is the band. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder shuts down the cassis and cedar aromatics.
- Glassware. Use a large Bordeaux-style glass. The wide bowl rewards Mas La Plana's Cabernet structure.
- Pair with the food. Grilled lamb chops, aged Manchego, or pa amb tomaquet with Iberian ham. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.
History
First Penedes Cabernet to win international fame when the 1970 vintage beat Chateau Latour 1970 at the 1979 Gault-Millau Wine Olympiad in Paris. The vineyard was planted in the early 1970s by Miguel A. Torres at Finca El Maset in Pacs del Penedes.
- 1970 — First vintage of Mas La Plana single-vineyard Cabernet
- 1979 — Mas La Plana 1970 wins the Gault-Millau Wine Olympiad Cabernet category in Paris
- 2022 — Familia Torres listed in the World's Best Vineyards ranking
Facts
- Producer
- Familia Torres
- Grapes
- Cabernet Sauvignon (100%)
- Classification
- DO Penedes
- Oak
- Long ageing in French oak barriques
- ABV
- 14.0%
- Price
- EUR 60 to 90 at retail
- Drinking window
- 5-25 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1970
- Organic
- CCPAE
- Vegan
- Yes (no animal-derived fining)
Frequently asked about Mas La Plana
What does Mas La Plana taste like?
On the nose: black cherry, cedar, cassis and tobacco. On the palate: dark fruit, graphite, spice and fine tannin. Full-bodied with firm tannins and a long cedar-tinged finish.
When should I drink Mas La Plana?
Drink 5 to 25 years from vintage. Younger vintages benefit from 60 to 90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles need careful handling for sediment.
Is Mas La Plana vegan?
Yes. Familia Torres has moved its core reds to vegan fining, replacing animal-derived agents with plant proteins.
What food pairs with Mas La Plana?
Costella de xai a la brasa is the canonical Penedes pairing; the wine's firm tannins cut through grilled lamb. Aged Manchego, pa amb tomaquet with Iberian ham, and braised wild boar are equally strong matches.
Where is Mas La Plana made?
The wine comes from a single 29-hectare Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard at Finca El Maset in Pacs del Penedes, planted in the early 1970s on Penedes limestone.