This wine is restrained, but there is no doubting its Merlot personality. Aromas of coffee, melted chocolate, smoke, and herb-tinged black cherry fruit are present in both the wine's aromatics and flavors. There is good fatness in the mouth, a judicious dosage of toasty oak, and a plump, round, nicely-textured finish. My instincts suggest this wine will get even better over the next 4-6 months; it should last for 2-4 years.
This family-owned (eight separate families) winery in Navarra, in the foothills of the Pyrenees has become one of the leading sources of terrific wine values. The production from all estate-grown fruit is about 66,000 cases, of which half is sold in America. As I have reported in previous issues, these wines are must purchases for readers seeking to maximize their purchasing power.
Importer: Jorge Ordonez, Fine Estates From Spain, Dedham, MA; tel. (617) 461-5767