The 2005 Arrocal Seleccion was aged for 15 months in French and American oak and bottled without filtration. Purple-colored, it offers up notes of cedar, smoke, mineral, and blackberry. With an elegant personality, ample silky, spicy fruit, good depth and a long finish, this is a pleasure-giving wine for drinking now and over the next 8-10 years. Importer: Aurelio Cabestrero, Grapes of Spain, Lorton, VA; tel. (571) 642-0343

Fresh, attractive wood and blackberry. Nice slug of American oak, and sweet, spicy, blackcurrant fruit. Fresh, with good length and ripe tannin.