The flagship 2006 Costers de l’Ermita comes from vines planted around the winery in 1908. A blend of 80% Garnacha and 20% Carinena aged in new Allier oak barrels for 12 months, it offers a slightly reduced bouquet of sultry black fruit, mulberry and wild heather. The palate has dense, forthright tannins that dominate the fruit profile, while the finish is showing too much oak, rendering it a little anonymous and tiring. This is a wine that I am certain would be better in a more favourable vintage. Mas Igneus was founded in 1996, a joint venture between Josep Maria Albet, Josep Maria Pujol-Busquets and the Poboleda Cooperative (which left in 2004). The winery is located at their Costers de l’Ermita estate close to Gratallops, and there is a strong organic/biodynamic philosophy throughout all their wines. Mas Igneus’s wines are highly regarded; however, whether it was because of the vintages I tasted or because some had only recently been bottled, I found them falling slightly below my expectations. In particular, I felt that a propos some of the top wines, the oak was not quite in synch with the fruit. Importer: Opici Wines , www.opiciwines.com