2005 El Nido

The 2005 El Nido is a selection of the best grapes from the same vineyards. Opaque purple-colored, it has even better perfume than Clio. Already complex, it offers up a toasty aromatic array of violet, lavender, espresso, chocolate, blueberry compote, and blackberry liqueur. Smooth-textured and dense, the wine is rich and mouth-filling. It has a decade of aging potential at the least but is so juicy now that it would pair well with a 60-day dry-aged rib eye. It will show best between 2015 and 2030. The winemaking at the El Nido project is overseen by renowned Australian vigneron Chris Ringland. After a meticulous selection process, the grapes are basket pressed and fermented in oak. Malolactic fermentation occurs in new French and American oak where the wine remains for 26 months. Importer: Jorge Ordonez, Fine Estates From Spain; tel. (781) 461-5767

70% Monastrell, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon. 18 months in oak, mainly French. Inky black. Perfumed black fruit aromas and very sweet black fruit on the palate. Juicy, rich and lively. Soft tannins and a fresh finish. Very approachable. (JH)

Opaque violet. Seductively perfumed bouquet of red and dark berry liqueur, graphite, Asian spices and incense. This saturates every nook and cranny of the palate with flavors of sweet raspberry, boysenberry, candied licorice, cinnamon and vanilla. Impressively fresh for such flavor impact, thanks to gentle tannins and vibrant finishing minerality. A lingering, subtle strawberry quality underscores this wine's impression of elegance over brute force.