Winemaker Notes
The 2018 Espectacle Montsant's color, bright and diaphanous, already reflects the purple hues of its actual youthfulness. Its aroma maintains, year after year, the characteristic notes of this unique wine. Immediately after serving the Glass, it seduces us with subtle aromas of ripe black fruit. Gradually, patience is rewarded, the wine opens to show all the wealth it contains. The rose, orange blossom, and even violet flourish in the glass to integrate a lush complexity.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
As with other wines, I also tasted the 2018 Espectacle del Montsant next to the 2017 to catch up, as I last tasted the region some 16 months ago. 2018 was a cooler year of slow ripeness, and the grapes achieved an amazing 16% alcohol. The wine is truly spectacular, true to its name. It has tons of violet notes and aromatic herbs, the palate is gentler, and the tannins are rounder, polished and elegant. It has full body but isn't heavy. There is a lot of complexity, and the wine developed slowly in the glass, showing nuances of cereals, kirsch, orange peel and lots of spices and herbs. It's opulent and full, deep and complex. Amazing in its style.
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Wine & Spirits
René Barbier makes this wine in collaboration with a team including Christopher Cannan of Europvin. It grows on a steep hillside with centenary garnacha vines in the village of La Figuera, the fruit fermented and aged in large French oak vats. The care in farming and winemaking show in the wine’s grace and detail, in its pretty strawberry-seed tannins and spring-flower scents. Dark red grenache flavors come up from underneath, juicy and plump. A young wine with stamina, ready to enjoy or to cellar.
Grenache thrives in any warm, Mediterranean climate where ample sunlight allows its clusters to achieve full phenolic ripeness. While Grenache's birthplace is Spain (there called Garnacha), today it is more recognized as the key player in the red blends of the Southern Rhône, namely Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Côtes du Rhône and its villages. Somm Secret—The Italian island of Sardinia produces bold, rustic, single varietal Grenache (there called Cannonau). California, Washington and Australia have achieved found success with Grenache, both flying solo and in blends.
