The 2008 Milmanda is 100% Chardonnay from a single vineyard of the same name. It was fermented and aged for 12 months in new French oak with occasional batonnage. Light gold in color, it offers up a toasty, buttered popcorn-accented nose along with pear, tropical notes and mineral. In the glass it exhibits excellent depth and concentration, good balance, and a lengthy, fruit-filled finish. It has good aging potential as the 2003 and 1998 vintages that I was shown are still alive and well. There was a time, perhaps 35-40 years ago when I was just becoming interested in fine wine, that Torres and Spanish wine were synonymous in the USA. There was Vega Sicilia for the cognoscenti, and a few Riojas floating about for those past the beginner stage, but for most of us there was Torres and it usually delivered the goods at a nice price ($3 for Sangre de Toro). Currently Torres towers over all the table wine producers in Penedes making several million cases plus one million cases of brandy. The winery is a tourist destination with a first-class restaurant. For many years the Torres flagship was the Gran Coronas Black Label, subsequently renamed Mas La Plana. It is produced from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Mas La Plana vineyard and aged for 18 months in new French oak. Importer: Dreyfus Ashby & Co., New York, NY; tel. (212) 818-0770