The 2008 Idilico is a 50/50 blend of old-vine Monastrell and Petit Verdot, aged for 13 months in a mixture of French and American oak barrels. It is clean in the nose with ripe red fruits and feels fresh and balanced for its age. All its components seem to be well-integrated and well-balanced alcohol, fruit and wood, with perhaps a little bit of tannin to be resolved at the end of the palate. This is a selection of 28,000 bottles. Give it one more year in bottle before drinking. Drink 2014-2017. 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 purple-colored 2006 Idilico is a blend of 60% Monastrell (from 95-year-old vines) and 40% Petit Verdot aged for 13 months in French and American oak. It exhibits a sexy nose of cedar, graphite, incense, and wild blueberry leading to a ripe, full-bodied, rich wine with good depth and concentration. It has 3-4 years of aging potential and will offer optimal drinking from 2013 to 2021. Importer: Opici Wines , www.opiciwines.com