2012 Planetes de Nin

(70% garnacha and 30% carinena; aged for 15 months in foudres): Brilliant ruby. Lively and precise on the nose, displaying scents of fresh red berries, floral oils, Asian spices and minerals. Round and seamless on the palate, offering nervy redcurrant and raspberry flavors that flesh out with air. Pure and focused on the finish, which features silky tannins and a whiplash of candied red fruit. (JR)

"I was thoroughly impressed by the 2012 Planetes de Nin, a bright ruby-colored, fragrant Garnacha-based red with some 30% Cariñena from the Planetes vineyard in Porrera. It has a beautiful floral nose of violets and lilies, with showy aromas of blood orange peel, wild berries and oriental spices in a Vosne-Romanée way, very Burgundian overall and truly captivating. The palate is ultra-sleek, silky with very refined tannins and a subtle minerality that adds to the freshness and makes the wine very focused and precise. This is so different from previous vintages, so much more elegant and focused, pure and elegant. This should age in bottle nicely, but it will be very difficult to resist. And it's a very good value. 9,000 bottles."