2006 Aquilon

Even better (although you will pay dearly for the upgrade) is the flagship 2006 Aquilon. It offers a similar room-filling kinky perfume that is totally captivating. On the plush palate, gobs of pure black cherry and black raspberry fruit conceal the fact that this wine has enough ripe tannin to evolve for at least a decade. This hedonistic effort is impeccably balanced and should provide extreme pleasure from 2015 to 2030. The Alto Moncayo wines, from the up-and-coming DO of Campo de Borja, are produced from old-vine Garnacha with winemaking overseen by veteran vigneron Chris Ringland. Importer: Jorge Ordonez, Fine Estates From Spain, Dedham, MA; tel. (781) 461-5767

The 2006 Aquilon displays a more restrained, structured and firm personality with clean, crisp aromas of black cherry, smokey oak, vanilla, candle wax and resin. The palate is full bodied, beautifully balanced, pure, precise and long. Simply a stunning wine!

(100% garnacha) Glass-staining ruby. Finely etched raspberry, blackberry, floral and mineral aromas expand in the glass while retaining impressive clarity. Silky and sweet, with pinot-like red berry and cherry flavors, a seamless texture and a big jolt of smoky minerals on the back. Balances racy precision with great flavor impact, picking up Asian spices and candied rose with air. The very long finish repeats the red fruit and floral qualities with conviction. If only the current set of Australian wines from consulting winemaker Chris Ringland had even half the clarity and elegance of these.