Medium garnet in color, 2008 Tempranillo Graciano displays notes of black raspberries, red currants, rose hip tea and earth. Full bodied and concentrated with medium-high acid and a medium level of chewy tannins, it has a long earthy finish. Drinking now, it should remain delicious to 2015. Importer: Southern Starz, Huntington Beach, CA; tel. (714) 892-3030

The 2007 Tempranillo (70%)-Graciano (30%) is dark ruby-colored with an alluring nose of spice box, tobacco, black cherry, and blackberry. A bit tightly wound on the palate, it sports a racy personality with some elegance. The tannin is well concealed and should allow a graceful evolution of 2-3 years, when the wine should be giving up its full potential.Cascabel’s latest releases maintain the high standards established in previous vintages.Importer: Southern Starz, Huntington Beach, CA; tel. (714) 892-3030

The 2006 Tempranillo (70%)-Graciano (30%) is Cascabel’s take on Rioja. It was aged for 18 months in 60% new French oak puncheons and bottled without fining or filtration. Dark ruby in color, it offers up a complex bouquet of pain grille, spice box, leather, black cherry, and blackberry. This supple-textured wine delivers mouth coating, spicy dark fruits, excellent concentration, and a lengthy, pure finish. It will provide optimum pleasure from 2010 to 2018. Cascabel is a five hectare estate, four of which are planted to nine grape varieties. It is the project of Duncan Ferguson and Susana Fernandez, the latter a native of Madrid. The concept is to put a Spanish face on McLaren Vale wines.Importer: Southern Starz, Huntington Beach, CA; tel. (714) 892-3030

The 2005 Tempranillo (70%) – Graciano (30%) is Cascabel’s take on Rioja. Production is a tiny 90 cases from yields of 1 ton per acre. The wine was barrel-fermented and aged for 18 months in 50% new French oak. Dark ruby-colored, it offers a lovely perfume of toast, smoke, forest floor, spice box, cassis and blackberry. This is followed by a full-bodied, ripe wine with superior depth and concentration, spicy berry fruit, and a lengthy finish. Drink it over the next 6-8 years. Cascabel is a 5 hectare estate, 4 of which are planted to nine varieties. It is the project of Duncan Ferguson and Susana Fernandez, a native of Madrid. The goal is to put a Spanish face on McLaren Vale wines.Importer: Ken Onish and John Gorman, Southern Starz; tel. (714) 892-3030