The intense rosé 2021 Gran Caus Rosat was produced with Merlot but looks like a red from Pinot Noir, according to Carlos Esteva, produced like the wines from the Rh?ne. But in 2021, it had a longer maceration to achieve this bright ruby color and to obtain more density. It's more like a claret, with purity, atypical and more like a light red, with texture and structure. It goes very well with all sorts of food. The 18 hours of maceration and 13.5% alcohol make it a powerful rosé. 20,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in April 2022.

I hadn't tasted the rosé for a while until I encountered the recent 2018 Gran Caus Rosat. It's a much darker style than what you find nowadays, keeping the Mediterranean expression of red fruit combined with power and structure, more like a light red. It's produced with Merlot grapes that saw a maceration of 18 hours and a slow fermentation of 40 days. The color is that of a Poulsard from Jura, a bright ruby, but the nose is very different, with tons of strawberry preserves. The palate is round and lush, with a bitter touch in the finish. Some 16,695 bottles were produced. It was bottled in February and March 2019.

The winery has also turned out one of the finest Spanish Rosados on the market. The 2006 Gran Caus Rose is medium pink-colored with aromas of strawberry, raspberry, and cherry. This is followed by a dry, substantial wine with layers of flavor, excellent concentration, and a lengthy finish. Drink it over the next 12-18 months. Importer: Steve Miles Selections, Denver, CO: Tel: (303) 495-3811

No tasting note given. Carlos Esteva is the man behind these intriguing white wines. His M.O. bears a certain resemblance to that of Kalin Cellars’ Terry Leighton particularly with regard to releasing wines only when he feels they are ready to be drunk. Importer: Steve Miles Selections, Denver, CO; tel. (303) 495-3811