The 2012 Acusp is pure Pinot Noir fermented in stone pools and oak vats, and aged in barrel for a year. It is suffering from the bottling (end of November 2013), and it reminds me of an awkward phase that Charme, the most elegant table wine from Niepoort in Douro, goes through, with a slightly sweet nose of candied cherries, vanilla, smoke and banana skin. The palate has the freshness, balance and fruit to age for a long time, with a silky texture, great purity of flavors, and superb elegance and harmony. The 2010 is now ready, so, while this could be drunk now, I’d opt for waiting a couple of years. Drink 2015-2020. Raul Bobet’s groundbreaking wines from the Pyrenees subzone of the Costers del Segre appellation, are produced in the village of Talarn at 1,000 meters altitude. The wines are named with Sanskrit words or after the places where grapes are grown. Nowadays most of the wines are fermented in the 12th century stone lagares from the property. It has to be seen to be believed. However, the process is not the most important thing, what is really important is that the results are superb. These are some of the most exciting new wines throughout Spain. And Bobet, the ex-Torres enquiring mind, is also responsible for the breathtaking Priorats from the Ferrer-Bobet winery, his joint venture with entrepreneur and wine nut Sergi Ferrer-Salat. Importer: Eric Solomon, European Cellars, Charlotte, NC; tel. (704) 358-1565