The 2010 Minimum is a blend of two-thirds Monastrell and one-third Cabernet Franc. The latter imparts an attractive leafiness to the brambly black fruit that is imbued with earthiness. The palate is medium-bodied with a tarry entry. It has good weight in the mouth with clean, brambly black fruit and a subtle white pepper note towards the finish that has a pleasing gentle grip. This is very fine. Drink now-2018. Rafael Cambra established his bodega in 2001 when he acquired a parcel of un-grafted 50-year old Monastrell vines located at 650 meters, that he augmented with some high-density plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. He is a winemaker who has adopted a minimal intervention policy and ages the wines in 500 liter French oak barrels. The wines are neither fined nor filtered. These good wines are sometimes let down by a lack of synergy between varieties, as if two people are dancing to different tunes. Importer: Tom George, Frontier Wine Imports, Dover, NJ; tel. (973) 328-4500; and www.indigowine.co.uk in the UK.

The 2009 Minimum is made up of 70% Monastrell and 30% Cabernet Franc aged for 12 months in new French oak. Scents of clove, cinnamon, vanilla, underbrush, cassis, and black currant compose the bouquet of this structure, spicy, nicely proportioned offering. Give it 2-3 years to fully blossom and drink it from 2013 to 2021. Importer: Tom George, Frontier Wine Imports, Dover, NJ; Tel. (973) 328-4500

The purple-colored 2006 Minimum (so-called because it is made with minimum human intervention according to Cambra) is a blend of 70% Monastrell and 30% Cabernet Franc aged for 16 months in 1 year French oak before bottling without filtration. It presents an aromatic array of cedar, tobacco, underbrush, Asian spices, menthol, and assorted black fruits. This is followed by a medium- to full-bodied wine with layered fruit, spicy flavors, good volume, and a lengthy, fruit-filled finish. Drink this nicely rendered effort from 2012 to 2021. Importer: Frontier Wine Imports, Dover, NJ; www.wineimport@optonline.net

The 2005 Minimum is an unusual blend of 70% Monastrell and 30% Cabernet Franc aged for 16 months in second use French oak. Dark ruby-colored, it offers up an alluring aromatic array of cedar, tobacco, underbrush, violets, and blueberry. On the palate it is medium to full-bodied with plenty of up-front spicy, savory blue fruits, good depth and grip, and excellent length. It will provide pleasure through 2015. Bodegas Rafael Cambra is a relatively new estate with its first vintage in 2001. Importer: Tom George, Frontier Wine Imports, Dover, NJ; tel. (973) 328-4500