2004 Rotllan Torra Tirant

Inky purple. Explosively perfumed nose offers a hypnotic array of dark fruit scents, sexy oak spices, minerals and smoked meat. Deep and sweet, with finely etched black raspberry, cassis and blueberry flavors firmed by youthful tannins. The tannins build on the deep, rich finish, which puts on a wonderfully suave display of licorice and floral pastilles and red and dark berry liqueur flavors.

The 2004 Tirant is made up of 35% Carinena, 30% Garnacha, and the balance Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. It also spent 12 months in French oak. A saturated purple in color, it exhibits a reticent nose of pain grille, mineral, incense, blackberry, and black cherry. It offers greater depth than the Amadis bottling albeit in a similar austere style. It will require extended cellaring but its prospect of adding some generosity to its masculine personality is considerably better. It will be in its prime from 2015 through 2024. Jun 2009, www.robertparker.com