I have a whole bunch of stuff from tastings over the past few months, plus I heap of wine that people have sent in, I’ve just started writing them up and will post 2 or 3 a week until normal posting resumes at the end of the academic year.

Miquelagel is one of those winemakers you just know you are going to like on first sight. Stocky with crazy hair, he looks like a man who spends a lot of time out in the vineyard. Bucket loads of charm and energy, plus he can spin a good yarn. A real character, plus he has that great Mediterranean hospitality of making everyone feel welcome, especially the ladies! While I’m a believer in the whole terroir concept, there should always be something of the winemaker in the wine as well. And you will find a burst of  Miquelangel in every one of his wines. These are charming, thoughtful wines of the kind that get wine geeks all warm and fuzzy: highly enjoyable but they seem to tell a story of Mallorca and it’s people, the grapes do the talking and the winemaking tricks are kept to a minimum.

These are the only wines that I’ve ever seen from Mallorca, so I can’t make any comment on the place in generally, but if these wines are anything to go by there is a big future here.

2005 Tribal Wines ‘Virat’ Callet - Bloody beef stock and beetroot, earth and an old packet of African spice mix. Juicy fruit but medium bodied in the mouth, with strong tea like tannins. It’s got a touch of heat on the finish, but this add something rather than detracts. Cherry fruit with a slight touch of sars and a lick of herbs. Ideal for grilled meats at lunch! I could see myself drinking a lot of this…Made by Ana Martin in conjunction with Miquelangel. 91 Pts

2006 Anima Negre ‘AN/2′ - 65% Callet, 20% Montenegro, 15% Syrah. 12 Months in 40% new oak. This one goes a little deeper and richer, but it’s still clean and fresh. Black jelly beans, some blackberry liquor, sage and cherry. Earthy and Fleshy, grippy tannins and a long finish.  91 Pts

2005 Anima Negre Callet - 95% Callet, 5% Montenegro from 50 year old vines. 17 Months in new French wood. Now this is more more my speed: woody spices over the top of just ripe red cherries, juicy, fresh and full of life. Finer boned than AN/2 with perfect line and length. A step up in structre too, plenty of fine tannins give texture and nice acid on the exit. My pick of these wines. 94 Pts

2005 Anima Negre ‘Son Negre’ Callet - This is all old vine fruit and it shows. Juicer, deeper and richer than the standard Callet, it’s also showing more spice, minerals and rocks. Purity is the word I’m looking for here. Excellent wine, but I prefer the joyfulness of the standard Callet. 94 Pts