The finest wine among the three new releases from this estate is the 1987 Gran Reserva Cartoixa. Its dark ruby color with a touch of garnet and excellent nose of roasted herbs, black-cherries, meat, and smoke are followed by a concentrated, full-bodied wine with layers of flavor, plenty of glycerin, a chewy texture, low acidity, and a forceful, rich, provocative finish. Although the alcohol level is high, it is well-concealed by the wine's jammy fruit. Already delicious, it should age well for a decade. This Grenache-based wine has consistently placed well in my tastings. It is a rich, peppery, medium to full-bodied, supple, mouthfilling, satisfying wine. Readers should think of it as Spain's answer to Chateauneuf du Pape. Importer: Europvin, USA, Watertown, MA; tel. (617) 924-7620

Dense with ripe prune and licorice flavors, it's jammy and lush until the muscular tannins kick in on the finish. This will appeal to fans of Amarone or late-harvest Zinfandel. Drink now or hold and hope for smoother sailing. Improves with decanting. 3,500 cases made.??–TM??Region: Spain / Priorat Select to Add