Earthy, sanguine and espresso flavors give this red an austere character, while gritty tannins and balsamic acidity bury a modest core of plum. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 800 cases made, 200 cases imported.??–TM??Region: Spain / Jumilla Select to Add

As I mentioned before, they were pioneers in planting Petit Verdot grapes in Jumilla, and they were quite successful at it. The vines are now 13 years old and occupy an extension of around 20 hectares. The 2009 Petit Verdot is aged for 12 months in barrel, shows very ripe and concentrated, with a smoky character, plenty of black fruit and a modern profile. The dense palate also shows a lot of acidity and tannin, in need of some bottle-aging. 24,000 bottles were filled. Drink 2015-2017. Casa de la Ermita was one of the leading bodegas in the Jumilla appellation at the turn of the century (it was created in 1999). They were the first to produce Petit Verdot in the region and they grew in volume very quickly. I cannot say that I found their last collection of wines very inspiring and I couldn’t recommend some of the wines tasted. They own 153 hectares of vineyards and produce half a million bottles of wines per year. Importer: Massanois Imports, Washington DC; tel. (202) 470-6769

The 2005 Petit Verdot spent six months in American oak followed by eight months in French oak, all new. Purple/black in color, it has a brooding bouquet of toasty oak, blackberry, and black licorice. This leads to a full-bodied, still tightly wound wine with loads of black fruit, ripe tannin, and a lengthy finish. Give it 4-6 years of further cellaring and drink it from 2014 to 2025. Importer: Opici Wines , www.opiciwines.com

The 2004 Petit Verdot is dark ruby in color with an enticing nose of cedar, spice box, scorched earth, licorice, and black currant. This fine effort is very well balanced with gobs of spicy black fruits, layers of flavor, silky tannin, and a long, pure finish. Give it 5-7 years to fully blossom and drink it through 2030. Importer: Opici Wines , www.opiciwines.com

The best of the dry red wines is the 2003 Petit Verdot. Dark ruby/purple-colored, it has a splendid nose of crushed violets, wild blueberry, and chocolate. This is followed by a medium to full-bodied, nearly opulent wine with ripe, sweet, layered fruit, excellent integration of oak, tannin, and acidity, and a long, pure finish. This could easily pass for a classified growth Medoc in a blind tasting. Drink this outstanding effort over the next 6-8 years. Importer: Opici Wines , www.opiciwines.com