A deep and complex nose of black cherry and raspberry, with some subtle chocolate, nutmeg, cinnamon and hot rocks. Structured, but very much open for business on the palate with excellent balance and minerally acid. On the palate the step up in complexity shows up again, with layered notes of raspberry, dark cherry, mulberry, a little sage leaf, white pepper and a shake of anise. It’s smooth and lithe, but with a deep and intense core of high quality fruit. Impressive stuff. 93 Pts.

Source: Heart and Soil Price: $70 Closure: Conventional Cork

There are two wines in the range, this being the ‘entry level’. Both of the wines are from old vines, the Samso (Carinena) and Granacha vines for this wine are 35 to 65 years old . It’s aged in 1 and 2 year old oak. You can tell that these wines are made with a fair bit of attention to detail, nothing sticks out, the balance is unbelievable, overall it’s complex very enjoyable. If Roda made a wine in Monsant, this is what it would be like.

The colour is quite dark red, but don’t let that fool you. The nose is subtle and complex with raspberry leaf, red currants and raspberry, a few toasty notes with a bit of white pepper. Fine and smooth in the mouth, its round with a few edges to provide contrast. It’s calm and confidant, but with an impish side. Juicy raspberry and and cola with some hot cinnamon, mulberry and the odd musk stick here or there. Fine chalky tannins turn up on the long finish. This is joyous stuff. 91 Pts.

Source: Heart and Soil Price: $40 Closure: Conventional Cork

The nose starts things off punchy with strawberries and raspberries, rocky minerals and bunch of wild herbs.  In the mouth you’ll find a silky, but broad texture.  A long dry finish with a touch of soft tannin.  More raspberry and strawberry with a red apple skin note. A difficult wine to really describe well, but excellent rosado. 91 Pts.

Source: The Spanish Acquisition Cost: $23 Closure:Screwcap

Web: www.cellercapcanes.com

Other Vintages: 2006

This is a real go to wine, its great drinking shows real character and doesn't break the bank.  The 2005 is the best to date and has a great mix of flavours and is just serious enough for your wine geek mates to be impressed, but not too serious or expensive for the non-wine geek to get into. 

Coffee, earthy raspberry, a touch of mint, hot rocks. Smooth and supple in the mouth, balanced and savoury with a tart fruit finish. Good concentration. Sour cherries and raspberries on the palate with sage and other mountain herbs and roasted meat juices. Some sappy plums and white pepper from the syrah. You can almost taste the hot summer days in the quality of the fruit. Light dusty tannins show up on the finish. A joy to drink. 91 Pts.

Source: The Spanish Acquisition RRP: $35 Closure: Conventional Cork

Web: www.cellercapcanes.com

Other Vintages: 2000, 2004

This is the entry level red wine from Capcanes, made from mostly Garnarcha with a dollop of  syrah from the lower, stoney soils of Montsant.   A quick dunk in american and french oak for 3 month actually works quite well for this wine.

Classic nose of raspberries and raspberry leaf with some rocky minerals and a touch of herbs and pepper.  Well balanced with some fluffy tannins and good acid on the finish.  Highly drinkable.  The palate shows bright shiny fruit, mostly raspberry with pepper and spice.  Perfect with food, but great just on its own.  A good way to look at a quality garnarcha at a low price.  89 Pts.

Source: The Spanish Acquisition Cost: $23 Closure: Syth Cork

Web: www.cellercapcanes.com

A bit about the wine first.  Its made from 80% Garnarcha with equal parts Syrah and Merlot grown in the stony soils of the lower areas of Montsant.  The wine has 10 hours of skin contact and is left in stainless steel for 4 months before bottling.  The result is a winey rose with a brilliant pink colour.

Cork: very aromatic with strawberries and raspberries followed by some subtle mountain herbs and rocks.  In the mouth there is excellent balance with a glycerol feel.  Dry and long.  The palate mimics the nose for the most part but adds some pepper and apple notes.  89 Pts. 

Screwcap: This really shows off the great fruit used this wine.  As above for the most part but a step up in all respects.  More alive and vigorous on the palate, its fresher and direct with great fruit impact. Also shows a mineral aspect on the palate.  The kind of wine you could drink by the jug on a warm day. Regardless of what you think about screwcap for red wine, its perfect for this style. 91 Pts.

Source: The Spanish Acquisition Cost: $23 Closure: Syth Cork/Screwcap

Web: www.cellercapcanes.com

This wine jumps out of the bottle with a great nose of blackberry and dark cherry, a bit of smoke, orange blossom and woody herbs. A tonne of tart fruits: blackberry, dark cherry and plum.  Add to this a mix of minerals, earth and some sage. Tannins don't stand out at the moment, well integrated and balanced.  Don't worry about cellaring, you could of course, but buy a few to drink now.  90 Pts.

Source: The Spanish Acuisition RRP: $35 Closure: Conventional Cork

Web: www.cellercapcanes.com

A bit shy on the nose, some crushed raspberries and blackberry with a mix of herbs, spices and wild flowers.  Smooth and fresh thanks to a burst of acid.  There are some fleshy tannins that give the wine a subtle texture.  On the palate its raspberry all the way, with some pepper and spice that adds complexity.  This would go very well with a good feed of lamb chops.  89 Pts.

Source: Importer Sample Price: Around $35 Closure: Conventional Cork

Web: www.europvin.com 

Importer: Negociants Australia

This isn't the current release, 2003 is around now with the 2004 out later in the year.  I was a bit worried the fruit might have faded, but I found plenty to like in this bottle.

The nose is really appealing, dark plum fruit with a smokiness to it.  There is a bit of rose oil and some light herbs in there as well.  Loads of savoury fruit in the mouth, plum and raspberry.  Minerals, earth, and preserved lemon peel add some nice complexity. Warm tannins on the finish and a good acid profile.  Very enjoyable. 88 Pts.

Source: Retail RRP: $35 Closure: Cork

Web: www.cellercapcanes.com