The 2021 Altos de la Hoya is a varietal Monastrell from dry-farmed vines on poor limestone-rich soils with some 5% Garnacha in the blend. It has notes of ripe berries, aromatic herbs and an earthy touch and a round palate with juicy fruit and fine tannins. It's very pleasant and fresh. 200,000 bottles produced.

I was less taken by the oak in the 2020 Altos de la Hoya, produced in a more commercial and mainstream way from ungrafted old Monastrell vines. But there's good fruit and depth here, a medium to full-bodied palate and fine-grained tannins, and the wine has the stuffing and balance to overcome the creamy oak with some more time in bottle. It matured in a mixture of oak vats and barrels for some six to eight months. 200,000 bottles produced.

The red 2018 Altos de la Hoya was produced with Monastrell grapes from old ungrafted vines. It has a creamy and balsamic touch with sweet spices intermixed with ripe berry fruit and notes of pencil lead and licorice, with the fruit being black rather than red. The palate is juicy and round, with very fine tannins and some creamy oak in the finish. Pleasant and easy to drink and understand. 200,000 bottles produced.

Even in a challenging year like 2016, the 2016 Monastrell Altos de la Hoya, a pure Monastrell, showed poise, character and a clean nose with varietal aromas and a honeyed touch, the concentration of dry-farmed vines and very integrated oak in the shape of faint spices. It matured in a combination of used barriques and 6,000- and 10,000-liter oak vats for six to eight months. It has 5% Garnacha. 200,000 bottles produced.

The 2015 Monastrell Altos de la Hoya is dry-farmed, ungrafted, old Monastrell with some 5% Garnacha fermented in 10,000-liter stainless steel vats with indigenous yeasts and aged in used barriques and larger oak vats for six to eight months. This is more serious and has more depth and concentration, with black fruit and the oak nicely integrated into the wine. There are mineral notes of graphite and earth and a medium-bodied palate with fine-grained tannins and a tasty finish. 200,000 bottles produced.