Altos de Luzon, 2006

I am a fan of Finca Luzon's low-priced Jumilla Monastrells--both the organic Verde and the regular black label. Altos de Luzon is a higher-end offering--a blend of Monastrell (50%), Cabernet Sauvignon (25%) and Temperanillo (25%) aged for 12 months in French and American oak. It aspires to a more international style, and the Wine Enthusiast calls it "the winery's high-expression baby." The fruit is at least as distinctive as that used in the lower priced Monastrells, and that's saying a lot. It's savory, spicy and sweet with notes of blueberries, ripe cherries and violets. This 2006 has benefited from its time in the bottle, and I suspect it will be even nicer in five or six years.