The red blend 2008 Almoroig has been in bottle since September 2010, so it has had plenty of time to get polished. It's a Monastrell-based blend with 15% Garnacha Tintorera and 10% Giró, the local Garnacha strain fermented and aged separately and blended only a few months before bottling. It does have a myriad of tertiary aromas, leather, tobacco, brick dust, rusty irons, a hint of smoke... The palate shows fully resolved tannins showing a little dry and with the rusticity of the grapes and place coming through. It's actually quite pleasant. 7,450 bottles produced.

The 2005 Almoroig was sourced from 60- to 80-year-old estate vineyards and aged for 12 months in new French and Hungarian oak. Dark ruby-colored, the wine is very perfumed with lots of spice, violets, mineral, blueberry, and black cherry. This leads to a full-bodied, forward, seamless, ripe wine with excellent balance and depth. It can be enjoyed now and over the next 6 years.Importer: Jose Pastor, Vinos and Gourmet, Richmond, CA; tel. (510) 237-0077